6c Small Queen Major Re-entry Article on Page 1 37

MAY 1955

VOlUME 12 • NUMBER S • WHOlE NUMBER 124

B·N·A TOPICS

r

I l

PRIVATE TREATY COLLECTIONS

Great Britain--Alphabet II T he unusual plated study offered by the order of

G. S. BINEHAM, Esq. comprising the following imperforate examples from plates 132 to 177- 13 76 singles, 55 pairs, strips of three (3 ), four ( 4 ), six (2) and blocks of twelve and twenty-four.

Also the following perforated examples- 1731 singles, 34 pairs, strips of three (3), four (4) and blocks of four (4) and six (2) of which 1 08 are from Reserve plates I - 6.

This collection is based on many years selection and rejection and was based on the original and pioneer researches of the late Bertram McGowan.

Price S1680

South West Africa The mainly mint collection on leaves with 1923 14 mm. setting

lhd. to £1, and 10 mm. setting 5/ - to £I, 1923-24 both settings with all £I values, 1926-27 issues to 10/ -, 1927-30 1/ 3 and £I and pictorials to I 0/ -, 193 I lh d. to 20/ -, 1935 Jubilees (three sets, one used), 1935-36, 1938 and 1939 Commemoratives, 1937 Coro­nations, 1941-42 to 1/ - and 1943-44 1/ 3; Postage Dues (90) in­cluding 1923 on Transvaa l 6d., a mint pair showing different widths of overprint of the Afrikaans and English overprints. Officials (over 50), where appropriate in horizontal pairs. Stamps 543 Price S196

1923-1949. The fine mint collection in a blue "Graduate" album, in bi-lingual pairs and blocks, including 1923 lhd. to 5/ -; 1923-24 (South West 14 mm. long) Y2 d. to 2/6 (4), 5/ - (8) and 10/ -; (South West 16 mm. long) V2 d . to 2/ 6 (6), 5/- (4), 10/ - and £ I (6); 1927 2d. to I/ -; 1927-30 lf2 d. to I I -, 1/ 3 (2) and £ 1 (the last in singles); 1931 Y2d. to 20/ -; 1935 J ubilees and later to 1/ 3. Also Postage Dues ( 124) and Officials (74). Ten are used. Many shades and varieties are included. Cat. £99 761 Stamps Price $105

Enquiries to

ROBSON LOWE LTD. 50 PALL MALL, LONDON S.W.l

Cables: "Stamps, London"

ARE YOU CONFUSED? We doa' t wQIHier II yoe are •lxed up •

y041r plallatdk tlllllkhtc wut with pqe .tter pqe o1 Yuied actflce on wlult ud llow to coiled: Reco-udblc neeythlna from ..,~lallzln1 ID one ltlllllp to collecdng the world - from bu.ylns only super-~rfecl stamps to acceptlna uythlna at a price­from pultlnll your atampl one by one ID separate acetate container• to using stock bookl 10 that they wUJ nenr be seen, etc.

Here at APFELBAUM'S It II dl«erent. We say collect for pl-re IUNI do 10

tile ...., you .-Joy It •ott. We tdl by MAIL, ID oer OFPJCE ud at

AUCTION, lmo ..... that eneyone will not wut to patronlxe all three plluu, but that we wm be able to sene your desires ID one or more of them.

We stock and seD most lines of Albums1 blank and printed. You aeclde what Is best for you ud we ban It •••

Canadian Literature

THE NEW HOLMES' CATALOGUE HAS ARRIVED

$7.00 postpaid

Dr. Alfred Whitehead's Pamphlet

''THE SQUARED CIRCLE POSTMARKS OF CANADA"

$ 1 .50 postpaid Two "musts" for every B.N.A. collector

... order them today.

• OFFERS No. 17 STILL GOOD A copy awaits your req uest .

• L. A . DAVENPORT 230 lonsmount Drive

TORONTO 10 CANADA Member of all Major Societies

CANADA OFFICIALS - Per 1 0 and per 1 00 used

Per 10 Per 100

"O.H.M.S." 01 .................. . 55 02 ········'·········2.55 03 ....... .. ......... . 30 04 .................. . 25 06 ....... ...... .... . . 30 07 .................. . 70 08 .................. . 70 011 ................ 9.00 012 ..... ........... . 20 013 ................ . 45 014 ········· ······· .15 015a ........ ...... . 65

"G" 016 .... . .15 1.20 0 17 .... ... ... ... .. . 45 4.00 018 .... .... ........ . 20 1.50

Used blk.

.10

.20

.15

Per 10 Per 100

019 ······ •·· ..... . 12 1.00 020 ..... .. ..... .... . 45 4.00 021 ....... ..... .... . 40 3.25 022 ................ . 65 5.75 023 ........ ... ..... . 50 4.25 024 ... .... .. .. .... .4.40 39.95 026 .......... ....... 15 1.00 028 .... ...... .. .... . 15 1.20 029 ................ 10 .85 030 ........... ...... 30 2.35 031 ................ . 45 3.95 032 ................ 9.90 033 ..... .... ..... .. . 12 1.10 034 ............ ..... 18 1.60 035 ....... ...... .... 12 1.1 0 036 .......... ..... . 10 .90 037 ................ . 15 1.25 038 ................ 4.20 37.95

STANLEY STAMP COMPANY, LTD. 877 Hornby Street Vancouver 1, B.C.

MAY 1955

Used blk.

.15

.30

.20

.15

.25

2.75 4.60

.08

.12

.15

.20

.25 2.50

Canada

129

A PHILATELIC FIND IN CANADIAN LITERATURE

130

Third Canadian Philatelic Exhibition Handbook and Official Catalogue issued for the stamp exhlbllion held In Mount Royal Hotel, Montreal, Quebec, October $-9, 192,. This is a 1 $0-page official exhibition catalogue, same size and similar In structure to the CAPE X Official Exhibition Catalogue (on sale at S$c). Over 100 pages of B.N.A. articles with 18 full pages or Illustrations from the collections of l>r. Lewis Reford, Montreal, and Mr. A. H. Lich­tenstein, New York City.

Fourteen-page article by Victor Gaudet, K.C., Postmaster or Montreal at the time, entitled "A Sketch of Postal Organization Throuah the Ages-With an Outline of the Development of the Postal Service In Canada". ' 'The Specialist" by Fred J arrett. ' 'The I$ Cents, 1868-1900 (Bill Cents Issues)" and "The 11~ Perforation In Canadian Stamps" by Dr. Lewis L. Reford. "Rowlanll HlU", by J. Powell Davies. An interest!ni fearure In connection with this article lies in the fact that the author is a _grand-niece of Sir Rowland. Mrs. Powell-Davies Is a resident of Westmount, Que. "The Revenue Stamps of Canada" by Edward E. Goodchild. "Air Mail In Canada" by T. M. Barrington. ''The Relative Values of Early Canadian Stamps". Based on numbers printed; by Charles J . Phillips. "Philatellc Bibllol!rnphy of Canada" by Edward E. Goodchild. "Canada Precancelled Postaae Stamps" by Frank S. Thompson.

Fifty paj~es listing Jury or Awards; Donations; Lbt of Special Trophies; List or Exhibitors· List of Entrtes; Survey of the Exhibition; Auction Catalogue of 172 Interesting Items; plus 3J pages of Interesting ads. on B.N.A. offertnas.

This is a find by Mr. Fred Jarrett, R.D.P., P .C.P.S., and all catalogues are personally auto­graphed by Mr. Jarrett. A "must" for a ll. This cataloauo is worth many dollars to the specialist of B.N.A. stamps as a reference guide and for the many fine articles published therein. Due to the limlted number on hand, tbi.s item is not for sale, but we shall a•ve it to any person who purchases over $10.00 of Canadian Philatelic Cataloaues and Handbooks from the list of items we have In stock as lbted below. Thb feature b to encourage the use of and the reading of Canadian Philatelic Literature.

"The man who collects the stamps or a country without its literature is brother to the man who steers a ship without a compass."

FREE WITH PURCHASE OF $10.00 OF

CANADIAN CATALOGUES AND HANDBOOKS (From this list only)

Spedallzed Philatelic Catalo11ue of Canada and Brldsh North A.merlc:a, by Dr. L. Seale H olmes and Associates (8th Edition) ........ ........................ ..... ...... ... .............. ........... ................... .... .. .. $7.00

The Squared Clrele Postmarks of CIIJUida, by Dr. Whitehead .......................................................... 1.50 The Canadlao Prec:ancel Cataloaue, by W. G. Walburn (Sth Edition) .............................................. 1.50 Catalorue of Constaot Plate Varlella, by H ans Reiche (2nd Edition) ............................................ 2.00 Tile Postal Stationery of Canada, by Nelson Bond ..... -.... .................................................................. 4.75 TIM Canadlu Plate Block CataJocue, by MaJor White (2nd Edition) .............................................. 2.50 CanadJu Railroad CanceUatlons, br Prof. Shaw .................................................................................. 1.50 Third Complete Addendum to Aprl 1954 (to above), by Prof. Shaw ....................................... ... .. .30 Canadian Philatelic Literature, by A. L. McCready ..................... . .............................. ... .................. ..... 1.35 Canada-Notes on tbe 1911-1925 Series, by Hon. George C. Marler, Transport Minister In

the Dominion Government ............................. ...................... ............................................................. 2.50 Nota on tbe Postal HJitol')' of Canada, by E. Durant Halliday ...................................................... .50 Dbttcy Damus Varleda, by Aubrey Kelson ............................................................................................ 2.10 Newfouadlalld Air Malls, 191,.1939, l)y Dalw!clc and Harmer ........................................................ 1.75 Canada and NewfOIIDdlaDd Stampless Conr Cataloaue, by Harry M. Konwi.ser and Frank

W. Campbell ........ ........................ ............................................ ....................................... ........................... 1.00 100 Years of CIIJUidlan Slaii\PI, by R. S. Mason ......................... .. ......... ................... ............................... 4.00 "CAPEX" Ofllclal Catalo1ue, w1th many fine B.N.A. articles ........ ... ............................................. .55 SCEC "CAPEX" Issue No. 92, with articles by Dr. Holmes, Messrs. J arrett, Mason, Goodale,

Konwlser1

Campbell, Petch, Norton, Belanger, Roberts, Webb; 9-page article on "100 Yea..-P us", the postmarks and postal history of Canada; 8-paae article on "Canada Official(', the most authoritative Issued to date .......... ................................................................ .3t

StaDclanl B.I"''.A. Rnenue Catalogue, by Robert G. Lowe .... ............................................................ 1.ot Scott's Dollu Brltlsb America Cataloaue (19$$, 2nd Edition) .......................................................... 1.1! Suney of 1951 Royal Train Covers, by Euaene Barna ........ .. ....................... .............. ................. .. ...... .15

1955(3~ata~~~nff .. ~~~~~.~~~ .. . ~~~: ... ~~~~.~.~ ... ~~~ ... ~~~~~~ ... ~~~.~~.~~:. ... ~r. ... ~: ... :: ... ~.~~~t.~~ 1.511 Canadlao Banks and Bank Notes, by C. S. Howard .............................................................................. 1.25 Canada and NewfoUJ>dland Paper Mon~r, by J . E. Charlton ............................................................ 1.01 Caaada Cola CataJorue, by N. C. Carmichael (19$3 Edition) .......................................................... ..5t

An prices llN postpaid to any eoDllll')'.

All sent well wrap~d and stamps of philatelic value used for postage. A complete line of aU Canadian Philatelic Reference Books In stock. Write for further Information on any of the above Items, or ask to have them sent to you on a 10 day approval so that you can personally inspect

them before making your final purchase.

STAMP COLLECTORS' EXCHANGE CLUB J. R. COOKE, Presid•nt (BNAPS No. 592)

ARKONA 2, ONTARIO, CANADA

BNA TOPICS

We bought a tremendous lot of

CANADA

No. 90, No. 1 04, No. 1 06, No. 108

of absolutely unpicked material, a ll bundled in lOO's. For those collectorJ interested in R.P.O.'s, cancellations, ha irlines, perfins, pre­~ancels, dated ~pies, the occasional coil,

etc., this is an inte resting offer.

These are being sold while they last (your choice of ScoH numbers or you may get a variety) at only •• ,

$ 1.75 pe r 1,000 • $15 per 10,000

$140 pe r 100,000 POSTPAID.

Please add 15c for out-of·town cheques.

SPIER BROS. 255 CRAIG STREET WEST, Dept. 2

MONTREAL 1, CANADA

Me mbers of a ll leading stamp clubs In America.

WHEN IN MONTREAL Drop in at my new sales office:

F. 6. ATKINSON 1215 GREENE AVENUE

WESTMOU NT MONTREAL 61, CANADA

• A FI NE SELECTION OF

B.N.A. and other BRITISH EMPIRE STAMPS

• EXTENSIVE STOCK OF

CANADIAN PLATE BLOCKS Price Ush ................ Sc

MAY 1955

THE CANADIAN PHILATELIC

SOCIETY OF GREAT BRITAIN

• COME TO OUR

ANNUAL CONVENTION

• SELSDON PARK HOTEL

SANDERSTEAD, SURREY, ENGLAND (Half-an-hour from the heart of london)

• Details f rom:

FRED TOMLINSON WHITSTABLE, KENT, ENGLAND

"Weekly Philatelic Gossip" says: • " • • • This reviewer thought he knew everything there was to know a bout the sub­ject ma Her but after an hour of study and knowledge he changed his mind. Take his advice and procure your copy. Your library is not complete without it. Well worth the $1.50 a sked for it."

"THE SQUARED CIRCLE POSTMARKS OF CANADA"

By DR. ALFRED WHITEHEAD

48 pages, with ma ny illustra tions showing some outsta nd ing pieces with these interest· ing postal markings. $1.50 (postpa id)

From leading dealers or direct f rom:

GORDON P. LEWIS P.O. Box 74, Brampto~t, Ontario, Ca nada

131

"THE FINEST

IN CLASSICS"

THE JULIARD CATALOGUE is a FREE SERVICE to all our

customers.

Be sure to benefit by this valuable offer, and add to your enjoyment

of Philately.

ASK FOR A FREE COPY.

A. S. JU LIARD Narberth, Pa. U.S.A.

NEW

PUBLICATIONS

Holmes' B.N.A. (new edition) ........ ....... $7.00 Canadian Precancel Catalogue .... . ... 1.50 Commonwealth QEII, 1954 ................ ... .. .85

Gibbons' Two Reigns, 1955 .............. .... .. 1.00 Bond, Postal Stationery ... ..... .... .............. 4.75 Whitehead's "Squared Circle Postmarks" 1.50

• GREAT BRITAIN

1d Blacks on cover, from ................... .. 4.00 No. 46 used, fine ......................... ........... 22.5~ No. 56 used, fine ................................. .. . 40.00 No. 74 used, fine ........ .. ... ... .. .... .. ..... ....... 27.00 No. 110 used, fine .. .. .... ....... .... . .. ... .. . ... .. . 27.50

pu. ?. 1flell 27 PARKSIDE DRIVE

rqRONTO 3 CANADA

132

THE MAILBAG Not Clerks' Numbers

Edward J. McGrath is, I consider, on the right lines in noting (TOPICS, March 1955) the numbers which appear above the date on some "Squared Circle" postmarks as be­ing postal clearing indicia and not clerks' numbers.

Small offices cleared mail as and when re­quired and do not show any distinguishing data. Large offices used AM and PM to show morning and afternoon clearings. Still larger offices used the numbers 1, 2, 3 and ..J or the letters A, B, C and D, while the largest offices used numbers 1-12, etc.

There is possibly a good link between clearing times and clock times, i.e., I am of the opinion that the numbers 9-24 found on strikes from HAMIL TON indicate clearings at these hours, using the 24-hour clock.

TORONTO used hourly indicia and I can report: 10 AM, ll AM (and AM 11), 12 AM, 1 PM, 2 PM, 3 PM, 4 PM, 5 PM, 6 PM, 7 PM, 8 PM, 11 PM and PM only. Perhaps 9, 10 and 12 PM may ultimately be recorded.

Dr. Whitehead records the date above the time for a period during 1894. AP 6 My earliest example 12 PM of this is 94

YORK STREET, TORONTO, shows a range of quarter-hour and half-hour mark­ings, i.e., 6.30, 9-45.

It will be found that low and high num­bers and timings are not so common as the middle numbers and time markings, in­dicating that the large bulk of the mail was handled during the middle of the day.

LONDON does have the numeral 1 but only on the Type 1 hammer used concur­rently with the Type 2. It looks as though the clerk on early morning duty kept the Type 1 hammer for his own use.

Some postmasters, or clerks, showed' in­dividuality in the use of indicia, a good ex­ample being LISTOWEL, where the date is always found in three lines, both in the squared circles and the ordinary circular postmarks which were in concurrent use.

Duncan McLellan (No. 906)

Early and Late Dates I have been studying with great pleasure

and profit the formidable booklet by Dr. Alfred Whitehead, for the production pf

Continued on page ISS_

BNA TOPICS

British North America Phila te lic Society

• OFFICERS

Presldeat CHARLES P. deVOLPI

.4720 Grosvenor Ave., Montreal 6, P.Q. VIce-President

GEO. B. LLEWELLYN 3U Maple Ave., Somerton

PhUadelphla 16, Pa. Seuetar7

JACK LEVINE 2000 Hopedale Ave., Charlotte 7, N.C.

Tr-rer WU.LIAM C. PETERMAN P.O. Box 348, Caldwell, N.J .

Board of Governors (19S3-S6) Bury C. Oinks, D. C. Mey­erson, Charles McDonough; (19S4-S7) V. G. Greene, R. P. Hedley, Dr. A. Whitehead; (19SS·S8) James T. Cut· hame, Harry W. Lussey, Lloyd W.

Sharpe. LlbrariaD

ROBERT J . DUNCAN P.O. Bo~t 118, Armstrona, B.C.

Sales Maaaaer ALEX HYDE

884 Brooklyn Avenue, Brooklyn, N.Y.

• REGIONAL GROUPS

NEW YORK-Meets the third Tues· day of each month at the Collectors Club, 22 East 3Sth Sl, New York City. PHILADELPIUA - Meets the 6rst Thursday or each month at 7934 Pick­edna St., Philadelphia, Pa. TWIN CITY - Meets the second Tuesday or each month at the Curtis Hotel, Minneapolis, Minn. NIAGARA-Meets the second Wed· nesday or each month at 651 Kenmore Ave., Kenmore 23, N.Y. VANCOUVER - Meets the fourth Monday or each month at 2091 West Broadway, Vancouver, B.C. WINNIPEG-Meets on a Monday In each month to be decided upon at the previous meetina. E. P. Warren, Sec., 720 Ashburn St., Wlnnlpea, Manitoba. EDMONTON- Meets on the third Friday of each month at members' homes. R. M. Williams, Sec., 12224-125 St., Edmonton, Alberta.

• STUDY GROUPS

PRINCE EDWARD ISLAND Chairman, Leslie G. Tomlinson; Sec· retary1 Mervyn V. Quarles, 82$$ S. Ellis Ave., Chicago 19, ID. SMALL QUEEN8-0lalrman, Wal­ter P. Caner; Secretary, E. M. Blois, 4 Cartaret St., Halifax, N.S. CANADIAN PLATE BLOCKS -Chairman, MaJor K. H. White; Sec­retary, Arch. Millar, Box 920, New Westminster, B.C. CANADI AN VARIETIES- Chalr­ml!'1 Major K. H. White; Secretary, R . M. Bryan, 3484 West 26th Sl, Van­couver, B.C. P£llFIN8 - Olalrman, Dr. C. M. Jepbcou; Secretary, R. J. Woolley, 35~ Ellis Park Road, Toronto 3, Ont. CANADIAN REVENUES - Chalr· man, Wilmer C. Rockett; Secretary, Prof. R . deL. French, 7481 Upper Lachine Road, Montreal 28, Quebec.

j.

BNA Topics OfllcJal Joal'llal of the

British North America Pbllatellc SocleC7

VOLUME 12 NUMBER 5 WHOLE NUMBER 124

CONTENTS ••• for MAY 1955

TWO IMPORTANT EXAMPLES OF THE 6c SMALL QUEEN MAJOR RE-ENTRY 137

By Peter J. Hurst

THE 7c BROWN ADMIRAL 140 By Hans Reiche

TRANS-CANADA AIR LINES (Conclusion) 145 By J. S. Gordon

CANADIAN STAMPS WITH PERFORATED INITIALS 153

Final Instalment of Perlin Group Handbook

&rpdaA}~ EDITOR'S MAILBAG 132, 135 PROGRESSIVE INDEX FOR VOLUME 12 134 REVENUE GROUP NEWS 149 BRINGING NEWS ABOUT PEOPLE AND STAMPS 151 FROM THE LIBRARY 152 SKETCHES OF BNAPSers (Isaac Pitblado) 1.5$ OFFICIAL SECTION 157 THE LAST WORD 160

• EDITOR

GORDON P. LEWIS, P.O. BOX 74, BRAMPTON, ONTARIO

ASSOCIATE EDITORS Jock levine, R. J. Duncan, V. G. GrHne, D. C. Meyerson, G. E. Foster, Rev. John S. Bain, R. J. Wooley, Prof. R. del . french

EDITORIAL COMMtnEE

V. G. Greene, Chairman; Dr. C. M. J ephcott, Fred Jarrett, J. N. Slnons, Charles P. de Volpi, D. C. Meyerson

ADVERTISING MANAGER

GEO. B. LLEWELLYN, 3 15 Maple Ave., Somerton, Philadelphia 16, Po.

Published at Brampton, Ontario, Canada, by the British N orth America Philatelic Society. Subscription: $3.00 per year; free to members; slnalc copies, 30 cents; back numbers, when available, 30 cents. Oplnlons e>tpressed in the various articles ln this maaa­zlne arc those or the writers, and arc not necesarity endorsed

by the Society.

Authorized as second class mail, Post Office Department, Ottawa

DISPLAY ADVERTISING RATES No. of Insertions No. of Insertions

1 6 12 1 6 12 Full paae .... $10.30 $9.2$ $8.00 Quarter ........ $4.00 $3.2' $2.75 Half paae .. 6.25 5.25 4.75 Column Inch 1.25 1.00 .90 Advertl.slna copy must be received by the Advertislna Manaaer by the lOth or the month precedlna yubUcatlon. Editorial copy must be receiVed by the Editor by the 5th or the month previous.

Progressive Index for Volume 12 TO APRIL 1955

=;:;:;:;:;;:;:;:;:;:;;;;;;;;;:;;;;;;;;;:;;;;;;;;;;:;:;:;;:;:;:;:;;:;:;:;;:;:;:;:;;;;;,;;;;;;;Compiled by H. M. DAGGETT JR. (BNAPS 50\

NOTE: The page of reference is indicated first, followed by the month of lhe issue to which th~ reference refers.

AIR MAIL SERVICES Newfoundland di Pinedo-S6 Feb. T.C.A. Flights - 1S Jan; 44 Feb; 68, 83 Mar;

103 Apl. BIOGRAPHY

Goodale, Edward (Necrology)-106 ApL Jamieson, Raymond A ., Q.C.-24 Jan. Meyerson1 W. S. (Necroloay)-106, 114 Apl. Moll, Artnur B.-12S Apl. Rockett, Wilmer C.-S7 Feb. Woodhead, Cyril-89 Mar.

CACHETS T.C.A. FUgbts-lS Jan; 44 Feb; 83 Mar; 103

Apt. Doa T eam Mail, Labrador-87 Mar. Royal Train Card-14 Jan.

CANADA (b7 Issue) Small Queen.s-2c Impert., 120 Apt.; 3c Re--entry,

123, 128 Apl. Edward VIl-le and 2c H alrUnes, 102 Apl. Quebec Tercentenary-tc and 2c Hairlines, 102

Apt. Admirals-Opts. on 2c, 37 Feb.; Halrlines on 1c

and 2c, 102 April. 1930 Arcb-10c Library variety, 119 Apl. Wu IS5Uo-1c Variety, 100 Apt.; 4c shade, 100

Apt. 19S2--7c Goose hairUnes, 100 Apt. Realstration-Sc perfs., 100 Apl.

CAN CELLA DONS St. J ohn's Paid (Nfd)-88 Mar. On 1868 Bill Stamp---43 Feb. R.P.O. Study Group-23 Jan. R.P.O. Markings, Train Numbers.-70 Mar. Squared Circles-18 Jan; 42 Feb; 68, 82 Mar;

llS Apl. Use of Money Order Stamps.-107 Apt. Quebec Revenues, punched-118 Apl.

COVERS Revenues Used for POStajlo-120 Apl. Canadians at Nile Expectation 1884-101 Apt. Polish Forces in Canada 1918--128 Apl. Bomber Mall in Canada 1944-4s--128 Apl.

ESSAYS United Provinces of B.N.A. (1866)-107 Apl. Newfoundland-Dog 14 J an; Prince Consort

$6 Feb. FORGERIES

Canada 1897 Jubilee tOe and 20c-40 Feb. UTERATURE

Indexing v. Abstracting P roposal-99 Apt. Netherlands Fiscal Stamps-117 Apl.

MILITAR Y MAIL Nile Expedition 1884-8s--101 Apt. Bomber Mall 1944-4s--t 28 Apl. Polish Forces in Canada 1918--128 Apt.

NEW BRUNSWICK NeedJor the 2c valuo-100 Apl.

NEWFOUNDLAND dl Pinedo Alrma11- S6 Feb. Essay-Newfoundland Dog 14 Jan. Essay-Prince Consort S6 Feb. Jmpertorates.-13 Jan; S6 Feb. Perl\ns-13 J anj· S6 Feb. Stationery-13 an. Stsmpless Cover 186s--88 Mar. St. J ohn's PAID cancel--88 Mu.

NEW ISSUES JOe Esklmo Hunter-S4 Feb. 19$$ Wild Lifo-86 Mar.

NOVA SCOTIA Cent luuo-36 Feb.

OFFICIALS Pertorated---48 Feb. Pert. Stallonery-11 Jan.

134

P£RFJNS Canada-9 J an ; 48 Fe~ 73 Mar; 108 APL Code Hole T~SO J<eb. Map Stamp-14 J an. Newfoundland-13 Jan; S6 Feb. Perforating devlco--11 Jan. Permlts-49 Feb. StaUonery-11 Jan.

POSTAL HISTORY Dog Team Mall (Labrador)-87 Mar. 1839 Stampless Covers-41 Feb. "Ross House", First P .O. In West-47 Feb.

PRECANCELS Stationery-tOO Apt.

REVENUES Auction Prices-117 Apt. Bottle Seals, Beer Labels-21 Jan; 8S Feb. Cape Breton Laws 19S4-118 Apt. Cigarette Stamps--53 Feb. Counterfeits and Fakes-86 Mar. Ontario Law 1870-71-S4 Feb. Perfins.-49 Feb. Provisional Cigar Stamp.-21 Jan. Quebec 1924 Law Overprints--53 Feb. Quebec Perforated Cancellatlons-118 Apt. Revenues Paying Postaao-43 Feb; 120 Apt. Source of Revenue StsmDS-BS Mar. $2 Bill Stamp Inverted fl:ead-86, 89 Ma.r. U.S. Private P roprietary-21 Jan. Yukon Territorial Court-53 Feb.

STATIONERY Canada C.O.D. Business Repty-38 Feb. Newfoundland-13 Jan. Perforated O.H.M.S.-11 Jan. Precancelled-100 Apl.

VARIETIES Small Oueen-2c Impcrf. 120 Apl; 3c re·entrles

123, 128 Apl. Canada 3c Jubilee double paper-22 J an. 1930 tOe Library-119 Apt. Stitched booklet-106 Apt. Admirals-l c and 2c halrilnes 102 Apl. Quebec Tereentenary-tc and 2c hairUnes 102

A pl. Edward VIl-le and 2c hairUnes 102 Apl. t9S4 Oueen Elizabeth sc-Crack 82 Mar. 19$2 Goose-Hairlines 57 Feb; 100 Apl. War Jssuo-l c scratch, 4c shade 100 Apt. Port Hood Provisionnls-82 Mar. 1937 Coronation-Thin paper 36 Feb. 1937 lc-Miscut plate block 82 Mar.

NOTE BY COMPILER: As this h doe lint •t· t-pt I ban ••de a t lndnllla TOPICS, I abould patJ7 apt~rtdllte ba.,.,. eomanb ud sunestlons llbo•t ,...,., In wllldt tllb llldft -.y be lmprond. In particular, I feel ratller •t • dllltdvan taae In the lllck of u •pproprlate Ht of headings under whlcll lndexlna should be made. In this P8rtlculllr lasue, I llne baaed tile Index on tile one published In April (wltllo out change) ud h•ve •dded my lndexbla for the lll1ldes b. the April tasue. I plan to r.lncla the lint Cllree luuea u Ume pennlts, ud PeJ'o lulps lldd furtller ero-trlea •• needed. Aboet tile oaly .ajor cbaqe In style tllat I ban ...... Is to ue tile -~~~ of laue ......,. of wMie -•ben for areM« ease of loeatloD ol 1M refHellee.

H . M. J)qgett Jr. (No, 51) 41711 West 37111 An. Vancou•er 13, Calutd•.

BN.A TOPICS

VOL. 12, No.5 MAY 1955 ?S.H1 MH"

THE EDITOR'S MAILBAG:

Hairline Varieties MR. L. P. VIENNO-MJCHAUD's ques­

tions in the April TOPICS regarding the "hairline" varieties in the Edwards, Ter­centenaries and Admirals, impel me to throw in my two cents' worth.

Several theories have been advanced to account for these fine cracks. Some collec­tors hold it was the curving of the plate~; others the poor quality of the steel available during the Great War; but to my mind, the conclusive article of Mr. G. B. Harper, in the April 1951 issue of DNA TOPICS, is the only real answer, and I hope he will pardon me if I attempt to condense some of the points he brought out.

The main conclusion was that hairlines were caused by the plate hardening. The argument went something like this:

(a) Hairlines were unheard of, in Cana­dian stamps, until the Edwards.

(b) All hairline specimens he had exa­mined were printed after the practice of case-hardening has been adopted; this seems to have been in 1905.

(c) The depth of hardening would vary from plate to plate.

(d) The surface stresses set up are pro­portionate to this depth.

(e) Case-hardening, while strengthening the surface, also makes it brittle; the em­brittlement would vary from plate to plate, leading to surface fractures when that factor was high.

(f) The actual form of the practure would be dependent on the crystalline structure of the steel used, though the cause can be di­rectly attributed to the surface hardening.

(g) The conclusion, therefore, was that the hardening produced, in certain cases, a brittle surface, which may have partially fractured during the plate preparation, or later, when the plates were in service, due to the heavy pounding of the press.

I do not think this conclusion can be challenged; it answers all questions that I can think of, and with three other factors,

MAY 1955

accounts for every type of hairline which I have seen.

The other factors affect the type of hair­line, not the cause. They are as follows:

(a) The quality of the steel used. (b) The "framing" of each impression, on

the back of the plate. (c) The curving of the plate; possibly

also, some of the other mechanical work on it.

* • •

(a) Not being a metallurgist, I don't know beans about crystalline structure; nevertheless, it is easy to see that different types of steel would fracture in different lines. The Edward hairlines are irregular, running at odd angles; so are the Tercen­tenary hairlines. Most of the Admiral hair­lines are more regularly horizontal, of which, more later.

(b) I imagine few collectors have had an opportunity to examine a stamp printing plate. When the transfer roll is applied, to sink the individual impressions, the pres­sure applied to the plate is extremely high­up to 25 TONS per square inch. This pres­sure deforms the surface of the plate, and to bring the surface back to an even plane, each individual impression is hammered, from the back of the plate, around the mar· gjne. This is rather hard to explain; you might get a better idea if you picture the back of the plate as a gridiron, with each little stamp impression surrounded by a depression of ppssibly a sixteenth of an inch in depth. You can imagine what those stresses do to the steel; the corners, par· ticularly, are compressed, and recompressed, and would naturally become weakened.

This weakening of the corners explains why, particularly in the Admirals, many stamps show hairlines starting from the corners of the stamp. This is not the cause of the hairlines, but it does account for this type. Incidentally, this theory was advanced by an official of the Canadian Bank Note

135

Company when I visited their plant in 1951. (c) The curving of the plate can effect the

form of the hairline. In the Admirals you can find both horizontal and vertical hair­l ines. As far as I know, no vertical hairline exists which doesn't have at least one straightedge. And here's the reason. The plates for the sheet stamps were bent on a horizontal axis (Marler). Any hairlines would be horizontal ones. However, some of the plates for the lc green booklet were bent on a vertical axis. According ·to Marler, again, plates 1 to 12 were bent the "short way", plates 13 to 22, the "long way". Hence, a vertical hairline would be from one of the early booklet plates; it would of necessity have at least one straightedge.

The curving of the plate, therefore, could affect the direction of the hairline; I sup­pose it could also affect its thickness. But it could not be the real cause of the hairline. The curving makes the Admiral hairlines more regularly horizontal than the Edwards or Tercentenaries, that's all.

Mr. Vienno-Michaud (How are you, Lau­rier? Haven't heard from you in a coon's age!) asked two questions: "What put the hairlines in the Tercentenary issue--printed from flat plates?" The answer, of course, is that the flatness or curvature of the plates bad nothing to do with it. They were caused by the case hardening.

The second question was, "Why do not other values of the Admirals have hair­lines?" I imagine the answer here is that the manufacturers' technique bad improved. However, other values do have hairlines, though not as strong as the 1 c green and 2c carmine. There are such varieties in the 3c brown, 5c blue, 2c green and 3c carmine, and some of the others may have them also, though I've never see any. Some of the lc and 2c ones can be pinned down to definite plates (item, plate 4 of the 2c carmine). That plate probably became exceptionally brittle through a variation in the hardening process. Maybe the quality of the steel used had some bearing on it, too.

To the best of my knowledge, no unhard­ened plate ever produced this sort of hair­line crack. The other factors influence the type of crack, but would not, in themselves, produce one. The question naturally arises, why aren't they found in later issues? I think the answer here is that after 1927 plates were chrome-plated; the plating itself is also brittle and easily checked, but any cracks (and there are plenty of them) would be in the plated surface. Deeper plate cracks are not called "hairlines". You can find what

136

look like hairlines in the current blue Goose stamp, the 7c of 1952; they are usually very fine and it takes a 5X glass to spot them, but they're there, and they are chrome cracks.

As far as I know, Mr. G. B. Harper was the first to advance this theory. I think Canadian philately owes him a vote of thanks.

Donald A. Young (No. 785)

Canada Honors ICAO With 5c Stamp June 1 • On J une 1, 1955, a new 5c postage stamp will be available throughout Canada. This new stamp is being issued to commemorate the tenth anniversary of the International Civil Aviation Organization.

The new stamp was de­signed by Wal­ter Lohse, a civil engineer who is assis­tant art direc­tor of a large printing com­pany in Mont­real. It is ver­tical in for­mat, measur­ing 1~"xl" in size, will be blue in color, and issued to postmasters in panes of 50. The stamps are being engraved and printed by the Canadian Bank Note Company, Ottawa.

This stamp is issued to mark the end of a decade in which Canada has been host to the International Civil Aviation Organiza­tion. It is a specialized agency of the United Nations, the only agency of this kind with its headquarters in Canada. By its efforts much progress has been made during the past I 0 years towards the improvement of safety and regularity of international air transportation.

This stamp will not be overprinted with the letter "G" to indicate official use. It will be printed from one plate only, No. 1.

Regular first day cover service will be in effect from Ottawa. * • It is not too early to make your reserva­tions for BNAPEX-55, Hartfonl, ColliL, Sept. 29-0ct. 1, 1955. *

INA TOPICS

PETER J. HURST (BNAPS 583)

Two Important Examples of the First Oe Small quee n Major Re-entry

THE Small Queen of the 6c denomina­tion made its first appearance in Janu­

ary 1872, in a shade of yellow-brown, and the prominent major re-entry on this stamp has been known to philatelists for at least 30 years. Tho basic characteristics of this variety are the extra curved line through most of the upper legend "CANADA POS­TAGE", another through the lower legend "CENTS", clear doublings of the vignette circle below the upper legend, and an extra line below the lower border of the stamp, following the contours above it faithfully and running across horizontally for ap­proximately two-thirds of the width of the stamp.

One of the four strongest of all Small Queens re-entries, this variety has always been fairly rare, though not as elusive as, for instance, the latent re-entry on the 2c. Data concerning it has been exceedingly sparse. The only cover recorded until very recently was the one mentioned in Jarrett·~. and perpetuated in Boggs' handbook, with the date of February 1873.

Likewise, the exact location of this variety has been- and still is- unknown, the only pertinent statement being found in Boggs, to the effect that it is "not from top or left vertical row of either pane", indicating the existence of a vertical pair with the lower stamp showing the variety, and a horizontal pair with the right stamp containing it. .Since the dispersal of the Reford collection, Boggs' statement should be amplified, by eliminating two further vertical rows, as proven by a used horizontal strip of four in that collection, the re-entry being one of the centre stamps.

However, two items which have made their appearance comparatively recently, add considerable and invaluable informa­tion to the meager funds outlined above. Indeed, it takes little or no temerity to state that both of these hems-the block as well as the cover- will represent the last word on the subject, since it is extremely unlikely that another or larger block or earlier cover should be found to be in existence.

A magnificent block of elghteen from the C. M. Jephcott collection, which contains the major r-ntry on the fifth stomp from left in the centre horbontal row.

MAY 1955 137

A superb cover franked with a 6c showing the major re-entry, and postmarked 11 months earlier than the previous recorded date of use.

The first item, a magnificent block of eighteen in the C. M. Jephcott collection, contains the major re-entry (which unfor· tunately hardly shows on the photograph) as the fifth stamp from left in the centre (or second) horizontal row. This piece is undoubtedly one of the largest used blocks known of the 6c yellow brown, and cer· tainly the only one containing the re-entry. It diminishes the question of plate position

One of the three or four known mint copies of the 6c Small Queen showing the major re-entry,

138

to the presumably final formula that the major re-entry is located "not in the first four vertical rows, not in the last vertical row, and neither in the top nor boUom row of either pane".

Food for Thought The striking circumstance in the block ,is

the "high" register of the re-entered stamp, in comparison to all others which are well aligned. This, coupled with the principal doubling criteria present in the re-entry, provides very obvious food for thought­borne out by the early date of the cover mentioned below-that this re-entry was both latent and initial. All evidence points to the theory that the variety was present at the time of first printing, making it ini· tial. It would be logical to assume that, dur­ing the manufacture of the plate, for some reason the subject in question was burnished off incompletely (hence the remaining extra lines, which are in alignment with the other subjects), and an entirely new impression rocked in (in too high a position) by means of the transfer roll. All of which would place it in the category of latent re-entry.

The second item is the illustrated cover bearing the major re-entry, both stamp and cover superb in every respect, and addressed Toronto to New York, March 28, 1872, eleven months earlier than the cover men­tioned in the handbooks. The early date of this entire-the 6c was but two months old at the time--lends considerable weight to the hypothesis of latent re-entry. An en-

BNA TOPICS

An enlargement of the stamp on the cover showing the characteristics of the variety.

largement of the stamp shows the charac­teristics of the variety which, in all proba­bility, did not last long beyond 1873.

Tbe remaining photograph, to conclude the subject, shows one of the three or four known mint copies of the major re-entry, which was unearthed not long ago under amusing circumstances, when a find of about 600 mint copies of the 6c was made in Montreal. They were all in singles, pairs and strips, mostly horribly stuck together, and evidently the obscure remains of an old postage drawer of a firm whose correspon­dence has been predominantly with the U.S. This was the only re--entry in the entire lot.

MAY 1955

A small book of expenditures listed the amounts spent on postage at regular inter­vals, and frequent comments by the un­known writer accompanied many of the figures. In 1877, when Queen Victoria be­came Empress of India, th,ere was this entry: "Now surely they will change these drab stickers into something more pretty-looking". Litt le did he guess that for another full 20 years these same "stickers" would do duty, and that the Jeens profile of the Queen would in the following century be recog­nized as one of the most beautiful in the classic and semi-classic period of British Empire stamps! *

139

HANS REICHE (BNAPS 783)

The 7c Brown Admiral SOME QUESTIONS ANSWERED ... OTHERS STILL SOUGHT BY ADMIRAL SPECIALISTS

A S POINTED OUT previously by R. M. M Bryan (TOPICS, Nov. 1950) not too much has been published on the various varieties of this stamp, and it was hoped that further information would clear up some of the problems of this issue.

A number of years have passed by and still little or no information has been forth­coming. Being an Admiral specialist mysell I have often tried to find some answers to the questions raised in Mr. Bryan's paper in TOPICS. Although I have not been able to resolve all problems, I have had the op­portunity of examining a number of items relating to these varieties which may shed some new light on the situation. Some find­ings do confirm statements made by Mr. Bryan; others show differences and require corrections and additions. Since details of number of plates, printing and other perti­nent information is available from sources such as Marler, I will not repeat these here. A listing of varieties found on some of the sheets and blocks examined is given at the end of this article, and reference is made to this list in the following paragraphs.

Plate 7 UL pane, stamp No. 15, shows a short line above the right "7", which was caused apparently by a scratch of a tool. Mr. Bryan states that only the plates used in the dry printing show this but the writer has a block from the wet printing showing the same variety. It is a constant variety and can easily be seen without a glass. In addition to this scratch, a fine diagonal line can be noted in the "V" of SEVEN ,and again both wet and dry printings have this.

Looking over other positions of the same plate and one large block from a dry print­ing plate, LL pane, but unknown plate num­ber, 16 additional copies with the line in the "V" were found. The position of the line in the "V" varies and so does its strength and length. Blocks of identical position but printed at the early or later stages show that this tine diminishes in length and strength with the number of sheets printed. This no doubt is due to the wear of the plate.

t CANADA-NOTES ON THE 1911-192S SERIES, by Ocorae C. Marler.

140

Before trying to explain this mystery, I would like to point out still another but similar variety. Here a diagonal line runs through the letter "N" of CENTS, and the same remarks as made in regards to the "V" applies for the variety in the "N". In a block of four from plate 8, UR pane, wet printing, all four stamps show the line. The UL pane of plate 8, dry printing, has a num­ber of examples. These are distributed at random throughout the sheet and no definite pattern can be observed.

In another large block from the LL pane, dry printing, with lathe work D (plate num­ber not known) a few stamps show this line in the "N". A strip of four from plate 8, dry printing, owned by Mr. Marler, shows three subjects with the line. Investigations so far have led to the conclusion that plate 7, dry and wet printings, all panes, show the line in the "V" of SEVEN. Plate 8, all panes, shows the line in the ''N" of CENTS and sometimes even in the "N" of SEVEN, but never in the "V". Further, it is be­lieved that these plates have been laid down on a steel plate which had been used previously and· that certain marks had not been burnished off completely before lay­ing down the 7 cents. The Bank Note Co. confirmed that, due to the shortage of good steel, old plates were used for printing this stamp.

The next item to be discussed is the lines which can be seen on some subjects on the left side. These lines sometimes extend from the bottom of the left numeral box into the margin, or show up between the numeral box and the frame line, or just inside the left box. Some show lines between the top left spandred line and the frame. These lines have the appearance of a re-entry, and Mr. Bryan classifies them as such in his article. But having had the opportunity to study a number of sheets and blocks it is evi­dent that these lines are nothing else than guide lines which have not been covered by the design or have been poorly burnished off. This conclusion is reached because the lines often do extend into the margin below the numeral box and in some cases show simply extensions of the outside frame or

INA TOPICS

box line. In one particu1ar instance a guide dot in the centre of the stamp is connected with such a guide line; however, the po­sition and plate number of this subject is not known. Similar lines can be found on other stamps of the Admiral issue.

However, from the listing it can be seen that re-entries do exist on this stamp and the writer has in his collection a copy which would fit Mr. Bryan's description. This stamp has a straight edge at the bottom and is a wet printing. The straight edge indicates that the re-entry must come from the UL or UR pane. Mr. Bryan places his copy as No. 91, plate 8, UL, but does not mention whether or not this stamp was a dry or wet printing.

On the other hand, it can be seen from the list that the dry printing plate UL does not show this re-entry on the sheet which has been examined. This may indicate either Mr. Bryan's copy does not come from this pane but from the UR pane, or may be from plate 7. It seems almost certain, how­ever, that the writer's copy comes from plate 8, since it shows a very faint line in the "N" of CENTS. Other re-entries found can be called minor, but all have the same appearance.

The last item for discussion is the double or single short lines which appear in the left numeral box and which have been men­tioned by Mr. Bryan. All plates, panes and printings show them in varying positions and forms. It is also obvious that after hav­ing compared a number of subjects on simi­lar panes and plates, these varieties are of a constant nature. Blocks from the same plate and pane printed either by the wet or dry

method, show the lines to be constant. The reasons for these lines can be nu­

merous and unfortunately no solution has been found to explain them. Two stamps on the other hand, one identified by its posi­tion, the other unknown, show that not only has the bottom been slightly re-entered but that these lines in the box have been re­entered as well. One copy, No. 21, plate 8, UL (dry printing) indicates a clear re-entry of the lines and the entire bottom portion. The re-entry in the other copy is extremely faint. This would indicate that the lines are not on the plate but on the die or transfer roll.

A die proof of the 7 cents, owned by Mr. Marler, does not show any sign of this, however, and thus one must conclude that it is the transfer roll which has the lines on some of its subjects. This could well be the case, since three transfer rolls were used to lay down the plates for this stamp. One of the transfer rolls had five and the other two contained two subjects each. A total of nine subjects, then, were used to produce the two plates of the 7 cent brown. It could well be that some of the transfer rolls were damaged or scratched. This could also lead to an explanation of the variety on stamp No. 25, plate 8, UL (dry printing) showing two pairs of parallel diagonal lines instead of the usual single or double lines.

This information is the result of some re­search on this stamp, but is by no means the final answer to all the problems. It is hoped that other specialists will be able to contribute more information leading to confirmation and/ or revision of these ques­tions.

liST OF VARIETIES

ILOCK OF 60, Ll PANE, DRY PRINTING, PLATE ? NUMBER

1, 3 .................... ...... .. ..................... .. . ~. 6, 9, 16, 17, 18, 21, 39, 42, ~2. ~3, ~4, 55, ~6 ...... .......... ...... .. .... .. .... .. 34 .............................. .... .. ................. . 50 ............................................... ..

Guide line (Fig. 3).

All showing line in "V" of SEVEN (Fig. 1).

Re·entry and line in "V". linea below '7" (Fig. 4).

SHEET OF 100 Ll PANE, DRY PRINTING, PLATE ? WITH LATHE WORK TYPE D AT IOnOM

1, 4, 4~, 72, 49, 61.. ........ .. .... ........ .. ~. 8, 9, 17, 39, 40, 47, 48, ~8, 60, 69, 70,78 ........................................ .. 6 .... ...... .......................... ... ......... .... .

10 ..... .. ............... ..... ......... ..... ..... ...... . . 22, 46, 76, 77 .... ... .. .... .. .... .............. . 31 ................................................. . 41, 62, 66 ........................................ ..

MAY 1955

Guide line (Fig. ~).

All showing line in "N" of CENTS (Fig. 2) fine guide line through centre of stomp from top to bottom, straight edge on lop. Line below '7" and dot in "N" of CENTS (Fig. 6). Guide line and line In " N" (fig . 7). Re·enlry, g uide line 01 in No. 1. As In No. 22 but no line in " N".

141

7c BROWN ADMIRAL - LIST OF VARIETIES (Conti nued)

BLOCK OF 6 UL PANE, WET PRINTING, PLATE 7

15 ...... ... ... ..... ... ................................ . Tool scratch above "7" and line in "V".

17 ........ ...... .. . . .. .. .. ................... ... .. ... .. Line in "V''.

BLOCK OF 6 UL PANE, DRY PRINTING, PLATE 7

15 ... ................... ................... ........... . Tool scratch above "7" and line in "V".

17

4, 5 ....... ... .. .

14, 15 .... ..... .

Line in 11Y 11•

BLOCK OF 6 UR PANE, WET PRINTING, PLATE a

Lines in "N" of CENTS and "N" of SEVEN.

As in 4 and lines below "7".

SHE ET OF 100 UL PANE, DRY PRINTING, PLATE a Re·entry at bottom. 1, 61, 71

2

3 ..... .. ........ .. .. .. .. ... .. ....... ... ... .. ...... ..... .

Guide line extending from top and boHom left frame line.

Guide line between left frame line and numeral box.

7 ....... ........ ... ...... ... ... .. ..... ............ ....... Guide line extending from bottom of left box frame line into margin and dot in "N" of CENTS.

8, 26, 46, 49, 55, 56, 57, 65, 68, 78 .. ... .. ............................ All show line in "N" of CENTS.

9

12, 13

14

142

Guide line as in 7, line in "N" of CENTS and very slight re-entry right bottom.

Guide line extending from left frame line top.

One line below "7" (Fig. 9).

BNA TOPICS

7c BROWN ADMIRAL - LIST OF VARIETIES (Continued)

SHEET OF 100 Ul PANE, DRY PRINTING, PLATE 8 (Con tinued)

16 ................... .......... ..... .. .... ........ ..

21 .... .... .............................. .. ..... ..... ..

22 ............. ... .......................... ....... .... .

23 to 2-4, 25 to 26 .. ...... .. ....... ..... .. ..

25 ....... .......... .............. ...... .......... .. .... .

28 .................................................... ..

29

32, 35, 43 ... .. .. .. .. .. ....... ..... ..

33, 36 .... ....... .................. ........... .. ..... .

3-4 .................................................. ..

37

39 .... ........ .... ...... .. ..... ........... .. ........... .

-47, 82 ...................................... .. .. .... ..

58 ......... ... : ................... ..... .. .......... .... .

59

Guide line left frame line bottom and two short lines in lop left margin, line in " N" of CENTS.

Re·enlry bottom and two short lines below '7 ". The lines show traces of re-entry.

Two lines below "7" (Fig. 11 ),

Horizontal guide line through centre of stamps.

Two pairs of lines below "7" (Fig. 12).

Broken parallel lines between top left frame line and spandrel line, line in " N" of CENTS (Fig. 13).

Two lines below "7" (Fig. 1-4).

Short line in first "A" of CANADA (Fig. 15).

line below "7" as In 22 but slightly higher.

Two broken guide lines in box (Fig. 16).

Two lines below "7", line in " N" of CENTS (fig. 17).

Weak re·entry bottom right.

One broken guide line similar to 34.

Broken left numeral box (Fig. 18).

line in " N" of CENTS and two guide lines left (fig. 19).

69 ............ .. .... .................................... line in " N" of CENTS and two lines in margin bottom below left box.

77 ...... ... ... ..... ... .. .... .. ...... .. .... ............ .. Guide line extending from left frame line bottom.

MAY 1955 143

7c BROWN ADMIRAL - LIST OF VARIETIES (Continued)

SHEET OF 100 UL PANE, DRY PRINTING, PLATE 8 (Con.;nued)

81 ... ..... .......... ..... ...... ....................... .

83

Slight re-entry bottom and two lines below "7" (Fig. 20).

Two lines below "7" OJ in 81.

85 ..... ........ .... ...... ... ..... ....... ..... ..... ..... . One line below "7".

88 .... ... .... .. .. .......... ....... ........... ...... ... ..

89 ............ .... ......... .. ..... .. ... ........... .. , ...

Two lines below '7" and dot in "N" of CENTS (fig. 21).

line in " N" of CENTS, two faint lines below '7" as in 88.

Trophy in Memory of Dr. 'dina' Goodwin

SHORTLY after the late Dr. "Jim" Good­win died, some of the members of the

British North America Philatelic Society suggested a trophy be given in his name, to be presented annually for the best display of Postal History (or other groups of B.N.A. philately, as a committee shall decide). The trophy, a very handsome one in silver, has now been purchased and it is hoped to make the first presentation at our 1955 Conven­tion in Hartford. The cost of the trophy and engraving, etc., is $150, and it will be no­ticed from the following list that $110 has already been subscribed. If any member

144

would like to be identified with this gift to the Society, they should send their cheque (not exceeding $5.00) to C. P. deVolpi, 4720 Grosvenor Ave., Montreal 6, Canada.

List of donations to April 1, 1955: (Each $5.00) W. S. Bayley, W. W. Chad­

bourne, L A. Davenport, B. K. Denton, C. P. deVolpi, E. N. Drake, A. E. Edwards, C. F. Foster, V. G. Greene, C. M. Jeph­cott, J. Levine, G. B. Llewellyn, H. Lussey, W. C. Peterman, E. Richardson, L. W. Sharpe, C. R. Shorney, J. N. Sissons, J. D Smart, W. H. Woods, R. J. Woolley, G. R. Workman. Total $110.00. *

BNA TOPICS

J. S. GORDON (BNAPS 1030)

TRANS-CANADA AlB LINES PART SIX-Conclusion (Continued from Page 105, April 1955)

A coodeased l1stiog of TCA 8rst ftlabt coven (contfuued): 26. 1948, Dec. 2--Montreal and Toronto to Nassau, Bahamas; Kingston, Jamaica; Bar­

badoes, and Port of Spain, Trinidad. No cachet; covers are scarce. Toronto mail is dated Dec. 2 or earlier; Montreal covers are dated the morning of Dec. 1. a. Montreal-Nassau. Backstamped 10 a.m., Dec. 3. b. Montreal-Kingston. Backstamped Dec. 3.

TOP-A wortime "first flight" from Newfoundlond on the occosion of the extension of moln line operotlons- Moncton-Sydney-Gonder-St. John's-Moy 1, 1942. Gonder Airport, founded os ot British

Government defense project In 1939, hos become o fomous oeriol gotewoy since the wor. BOTTOM-On July 1, 1946, TCA moln line service wos extended from london, Ont., to Chlcogo, Ill.

MAY 1955 145

146

~-- •• qoHciO ... 104

.......... 1 .

BNA TOPICS

c. Montreal-Barbados. No covers known. d. Montreal-Trinidad. Backstamped 12:15 p.m., Dec. 3. e. Toronto-Nassau. Backstamped 5 p.m., Dec. 4. f. Toronto-Kingston. g. Toronto-Barbados. No covers known. h. Toronto-Port of Spain. Backstamped 1 p.m., Dec. 4. i. Return covers to Toronto or Montreal. None known.

27. 1950, April !-Tourist service to Tampa, Florida, and revised Caribbean routing: Montreal-Toronto-Tampa-Nassau-Jamaica and Montreal-Toronto-Bermuda-Barbados­Trinidad. No cachet; no covers known. a. Toronto-Tampa. b. Montreal-Tampa. c. Tampa-Toronto. d. Tampa-Montreal.

28. 1950, April !-Montreal-New York non-stop service, in competition with Colonial Air­lines. First flight over this route was October 1, 1928, by Canadian Colonial Airlines (the only airline whose insignia ever included the emblems of both U.S. and Canadian postal services.) U.S. postal regulations provide that, in the case of competing passenger services, U.S. mail pouches will be carried only by the U.S. domestic carriers-hence no return flight on this date. No cachet; no covers known. a. Montreal-New York.

29. 1951, April !-Transatlantic service extended to Paris, France, in competition with Air France, who entered Montreal on October 5, 1950. Covers have a large (4 x 5) red and blue printed sticker advertisink the flight of Air France. Postmarked Montreal, 9 a.m., Oct. 5, and backstamped 18:15, Oct. 6, at Paris-42. This information is given for convenience. a. Montreal-Paris. No cachet; no covers known. b. Paris-Montreal. No covers known.

30. 1951, Sept. 1-Stephenville, Nfld., added between Sydney and Gander to main line. Stephenville had been an alternate field since 1943, but tbis is the first scheduled service. No cachet, no covers known. a. Into Stephenville by eastbound plane. b. Out of Stephenville, eastbound to Gander or St. John's. c. Into Stephenville by westbound plane. d. Out of Stephenville by westbound plane.

31. 1952, Feb. !-Resumption of service at Fredericton, N.B., between Halifax and Mont­real. No cachets; no covers known. a. Montreal-Fredericton. b. Fredericton-Halifax or eastbound. c. Halifax-Fredericton. d. Fredericton-Montreal or western points.

32. 1952, Nov. 5-Transatlantic service extended to Dusseldorf, Germany, via London. No cachet; no covers known. a. Montreal or Gander-Dusseldorf. b. Dusseldorf-Gander or Montreal.

33. 1954, Jan. 16-Caribbean service extended to Mexico City via Tampa. No cachet; no covers known. · a. Montreal-Mexico. b. Toronto-Mexico. c. Mexico· Toronto or Montreal.

~ OPPOSITE PAGE: TOP- Cove r flown on first ofRciol trip from London, Ont., to Cleveland, Ohio, August I , 1946. CENTRE- TCA moln line extended to Yarmouth, N.S., and Boston, Mou., from Halifax, April 1, 1947. BOTTOM- A scarce cove r fr- first airmail service over TCA fro•

Toronto to the Bahontas, Jamaica and Trinidad, DeceMber 2, 1948.

MAY 1955 147

34. 1954, Feb. 1-Sudbury, Ont., added between Toronto, North Bay and Sault Ste. Marie. No cachet; no covers known. a. Toronto-Sudbury. b. Sudbury-Sault Ste. Marie and western points. c. Sudbury-North Bay, Ottawa or Montreal. d. North Bay or eastern points-Sudbury. e. Sault Ste. Marie or western points-Sudbury. f. Sudbury-Toronto.

• • There are a number of air mail events in store in Canada, at the time of writing. TCA

is authorized to fly into the Muskoka Lakes area, between Toronto and North Bay. It is not known if mail will be carried, as this is a short distance only. Canadian Pacific Airlines is authorized to fly Vancouver-Mexico City-Lima-Sao Paulo-Rio de Janiero; no word is available as to when this will start. Scandinavian Airlines will shortly start regular flights via Edmonton from Los Angeles-Thule-Stockholm.

In preparing this listing and text, I am indebted to the chief of the TCA Press Bureau, Mr. R. F. Gadsby, for supplying needed information as to dates, and also for furnishing a series of McGill University extension courses giving a wealth of background information on Canadian aviation. The American Air Mail Catalogue and Dr. L. S. Holmes' B.N.A. Catalogue were also consulted for information on covers not in the author's collection. ·

Readers will see from the above information that new airmail routes and services are opening up at frequent intervals. Consider also that the other Canadian airlines are pro­viding new airmail services, many times as great in number as the new TCA routes. It was not so very long ago that this wealth of Canadian postal history was not passing by unnoticed. Canadian first flight covers, with their distinctive and beautiful cachets, now repose in' thousands of stamp collections, but many of the collectors have lost interest because there· was no prospect of acquiring new flight material. Look at the list in this and previous instalments of this article, and see how many bear "no covers known" tags because collectors were uninformed.

Let me close this article with a plea to all BNAPSers at all interested in flight covers to take a couple of minutes and write the Postmaster General of Canada with your request for resumption of first flight notices to collectors. The authorities have declined to act on a few earlier requests, but I believe sheer weight of numbers is the answer. Let's get, say, 300 letters on the P.M.G.'s desk from recognized authorities on Canadian stamps--namely BNAPSers- and we are bound to see some action. This "no covers known" stuff has got to go! Oh, yes--1'11 be interested in correspondence on flight covers and related material. *

EARLY ~ORNER ~ARB, 1858

A MONG some covers loaned some time ago by Member Leland I. Neff, was a

Port Hope, C.W., cover with the whole top

To the Members ..•

I WOULD like to thank the members of the British North America Phila­

telic Society for the lovely memorial wreath for Bill, and for the ·warm messages of sympathy to me.

148

And may I also express my deep gratitude for the many hours of pleasure afforded Bill through the Society and association with its mem­bers.

BLANCHE MEYERSON .

half spread out in the most elaborate early printed card known to me. It read:

"Port Hope Seed Store (pictures of plow3) and Agricultural Machines, by J. Rapalje & Co, Mfrs. & Dealers in Agricultural Im­plements, Garden and Feed Seeds, etc." Ad­dressed to James Rhodes, Chat~am, C.W., in January 1856.

This is the earliest really elaborate prin­ted envelope I have seen.

In the same lot loaned to me were several covers of what may be a very new find in ship letters. It was a large double oval with crown in centre, the top lettering being very clearly "Ship Lre" but the bottom on all copies being not decipherable. Other correspondence of the same lot indicates this double oval might be St. John, N.B.­so if others own such an oval I'd be very

• Continued at foot of next page

BNA TOPICS

Revenue Group News SECRETARY: Prof. R. Del. FNnch, 7411 Upper lachine Rd., Mofth'MII 21

WHAT is the most attractive Canadian federal revenue stamp? Probably every

collector bas his favoritea. In trying to make up my own mind, I am tom between the bicolored dollars denominations of the sec­ond and third issues of bill stamps, the black $5 law stamp of 1897, and the 1897 customs stamp for raw tobacco. AU are beautiful examplea of engraving and aU are in attractive colors.

The dark centres q_f the bill stamps are well set oft by their brighter frames. I think I like the second issue the better. Its design is simpler and the chaste and classic vig­nette of the young queen is lighter and more graceful than the rather stodgy portrait of the widow on the third issue. Here my vote g0e3 to the $2, with its red frame and violet centre. This is a stamp which for sheer beauty is hard to beat.

Now, let's look at the law stamps of 1897. These impress one by their size, to say nothing of the intricate lathe work of their designs. True, we have the widowed

EARLY CORNER CARD, 1856 • Contiooed from previous page

pleased to have a tracing of it for my r~ cords. Date 1817 was on this letter.

Another hope I have is that some one will be able to give me tracings of one or 1\ll of the double circle postmarks noted by Boggs on page 574 of his book, for caiedon. Stanley's Mills, Lloydtown. They will be probably 30 mm. or more across, and 1830-50 period.

The earliest Canada printed inscriptions I have on covers are 1824 with "OHMS Educational Department", and 1825 same.

The earliest purely commercial card is a straight lipe of type on reverse of an 1828 letter Quebec to England reading "QUEBEC EXCHANGE". I am told this was a com­mercial trading firm in Quebec, the letter being to England with no Canada markings or ship letter data. This would indicate it was put in the English mails after private carriage to a British port. This rare cover is owned in Detroit.-Frank W. CampbeD (No. 143). * MAY 1955

queen again, but in a more gracious portrait than that of the third issue bill stamps, a portrait with a certain dignity lacking in the earlier one. There is nothing like a good, full black to bring out the niceties of skil­ful engraving, so my choice here is the $5 in black, the least common of the series.

The 1897 raw tobacco customs stamp carries the same portrait of the widow.ed queen as the law stamp, but the portrait here is relatively unimportant, as the stamp is nearly four inches square and designed so that when right side up it forms a diamond. The color is a rich, dark blue, one of the most attractive shades I have ever seen. Used copies of this stamp were often da­maged in removal from the hogsheads of tobacco, but fortunately unused copies, probably remainders, are not uncommon.

After vacillating in my choice among these three stamps, I must say that I like the bill stamp best. What's your choice? All Canadian federal revenues are fine examples of stamp design and manufacture, but some are more attractive than others.

To go back a bit, our own Ed Richardson (No. 168) wrote as follows in the May 1954 "Popular Stamps":

"I have a new item in my Canadian reve-­nue collection to report. It is a 1941-42 'edition' of the unemployment insurance book, overprinted vertically, reading up, 'SPECIMEN' in large double-lined letters. Most of the pages are blank (April through June). The October through March sections have various meter impressions. However, the centre section has various denomina­tions of the unemployment stamps mounted therein, giving various examples of proper recording. . "The interesting thing about these stamps 1s the fact that each of the six vertical sec­tions of each stamp is overprinted in black vertically and reading up, with 'CAN: CELLED' in large caps.

"Who says, 'nothing new?' " The scarce revenue c:eDSWJ returns from

the coupon in the March TOPICS have been fair, but I know there are a number of our members who have some or all of the stamps included and from whom I have not heard. To remind you, I asked how many each of

149

you have of the $2 inverted head, the $20 and $25 Victoria, the $50 and $100 Ed­ward, the $20 and $25 George, the $20, $50 arid $100 caribou, and the $1, $2 and $3 transportation tax, all but the first from Newfoundland, and what each item cost you-all in confidence, of course. If you forgot to clip the coupon the editor provided just jot the information down on any scrap of paper and send it to me.

There seems to be some question as to the color of the paper of the 1929 Saskatchewan Electrical Inspection stamps. It is variously described as yellow, white or pale green. Which is right, or do these stamps really come on three different colors of paper? Perhaps some group member can set us right on this matter.

We have recently distributed 10 more pages of Publication 25. These have been ready for some time, but events over which we had no control delayed their distribution. Please look them over, compare the list­ings with your collections and inform us of any errors or omissions. Naturally, we would like to make this catalogue as complete and correct as possible, but it is not easy to be sure that all items are included when one has nothing to go on except the information one can collect from other collectors. Mo~t new listings have old ones for a jumping-off place-we had nothing!

There are still a good many pages to come. Another lot will be ready before long, but only those who have tried it can realize what a job it is to compile such a catalogue virtually from scratch. Very little about Canadian tax-paids has been published to our knowledge and most of what has ap­peared is fragmentary or not entirely correct or both.

And pricing is a problem, because there is no weH established market for such stamps. The best we can do is to accept the opinions of the few collectors of ta.'t-paids as to the values of the common varieties which they all have and then to adjust the prices of the less common material on the basis of what we take to be its rarity. If these were postal items, some of the prices would be in three or four figures. :rhere are a good many tax-paids of which only one, or at most, two or three, copies are known. We have tried to be realistic and to keep our prices within reason.

I know of one of the overprinted cigarette stamps of which only 50 were ever issued, of that I am satisfied, and only one copy has ever been found, but it brought less than $1 0 when it last changed hands.

150

The Canadian revenue collection of the late Goodwin R. Harris of Toronto has passed into the hands of W. H. Woods (No. 1164) of that city. I am glad that it is not to be broken up. Though Mr. Woods says that he is a "rank amateur" as far as reve­nues are concerned, I am sure he will take good care of his new child. Perhaps he may even dress it up a bit. The last time that I saw the collection, I remember thinking that some rearrangement would make it more of a delight to the eye. I know I'm a crank on this subject, but I do believe that display is half a collection, especially to the layman.

Someday I hope I can publish a fairly complete list of its rarieties, but for the nonce all I can say is that it contains the high denominations ($20, $50 and $100) of the 1918 Quebec registration stamps, which are exceedingly scarce; the three New­foundland transportation tax stamps, al­most never seen; and the $20 and $25 first issue (Victoria), the $50 and $100 second issue (Edward) and the $20, $50 and $100 fourth issue (caribou) Newfoundland inland revenue stamps, all scarce, but not unat­tainable.

There are some new tobacco stamps. The first lot is certain denominations of the cur­rent strip stamps surcharged "1/8" and is­sued early in January 1955. I cannot des­cribe them, as I have not seen them as yet. These were used because a strike in the engraving company's plant made the supply of !Ill th pound stamps short. The life of these stamps was brief; the regular ones were available again late in the month.

The other new stamp is ~ lb. for use on tins of smoking tobacco. It is 61 x 22 mm., black, and either rouletted or imperforate. The design is roughly divided into quarters: top left, blank for cancellation; top right, "CANADA/TOBACCO" in two lines; bot­tom left, "1/2"; bottom right, blue serial numbers 3~ mm. tall. The background of the cancellation space and under the serial number is made up of the words "CANADA TOBACCO" arranged in a vertical and horizontal interlocking pattern. The rou­letted stamps were issued on January 24, 1955, and the imperforate ones three days later, on the 27th. While this may be the first stamp of a new series, "the Depart­ment is not presently contemplating the issue or• other denominations.

These two stamps should be added to the list on page 43 of Publication No. 25 as 270A and 270B. We will assign numbers to the surcharged stamps when we learn something about them. *

BNA TOPICS

I HAVE come across an interesting phila­telic letter written by the late R. Roberts,

dealer, of the Strand, London, England, dealing with the Nova Scotia reprints made in 1890. His letter, written in 1929, states: "I have recently acquired some of these rare reprints of the first issue on thin paper. Only 75 sets are available, made up as fol­lows-2 blocks of 9, 12 blocks of 4, and 9 single sets (one corner block of each with margin). There are no more than these available and no one else has them for sale, of this you can be assured, and there is one fixed and certain price for them, i.e., £6 per set of four singles, £24 per set of four blocks of four, and £54 per set of four blocks of nine. The price is not likely to come down, in fact, after a certain period has elapsed, if any are left, J intend to put up the price. These Nova Scotia reprints have always been rare and have never be­fore come on the market. They are the set which were reprinted in 1890, ld in grey brown; 3d in dull blue; 6d in deep bluish green; 1/- in purple blue, on thin white paper. This small number will soon be ab­sorbed and there is no lik.lihood of any more ever coming on the market, and the price is absolutely guaranteed. There are seventy­five sets available for the whole philatelic world and I estimate there are seven thou­sand five hundred, at least, potential col­lectors who will want this rare interesting set, as I expect, the majority will be taken in blocks of four. It is possible I may break the second block of nine into singles or pairs, but it would be a pity to break the corner blocks of nine with margins. Appli­cations will be dealt with in strict rotation and allotment will be made within two weeks from date. Will you let me know early if you would care to participate in these?"

These reprints sold for approximately $30 a set in 1929. Today they sell for $61, with multiples practically never offered. The late Dr. Lister Tuholske, St. Louis, Missouri (BNAPSer Leslie Davenport will recognize him as one of his early customers), to whom the above letter was sent, purchased a set at £6.

BNAPS

BNAPSer Frank W. Campbell writes to say, "In the Squared Circle list I have the

MAY 1955

By REV. JOHN 5. BAIN (BNAPS 19)

missing # 12 on a fine cover for Hamilton, Ont., thus completing a long run of numer­als." These squared circle cancellations have evoked a great collecting interest and be­cause of demand supplies for nice strikes of certain items are indeed difficult to ac­quire.

BNAPS

Canada's new stamps, the 4c Musk-ox and the 5c Whooping Crane are certainly a contrast in design. The Sc Whooping Crane is, I believe, the most "delicate" design that Canada has yet issued. Many thanks to BNAPSers Campbell and Kenneth Vizzard for first day covers, and also to Mr. Viz­zard for the mint stamps enclosed. Divi­dends (philatelic, that is) for a columnist! *

New Postmaster-General? • Canada may sooo bave a new Postmaster­General-the present Speaker of the House of Commons, Hon Rene Beaudoin.

Recent reports strongly indicate that Post­master Alcide Cote plans to resign at an early date because of ill health, and that Prime Minister St. Laurent would appoint Mr. Beaudoin to the cabinet to replace him. Mr. Cote has been absent from the Com­mons since February because of serious illness. *

For R.P.O. Collectors • A. G. Anderson (BNAPS 997) submits the following clipping from "The Province", Vancouver, B.C., December 20 1954 as being of interest to R.P.O. collectors. '

"For the last time, 65-year-old George Foster, of Victoria, stood at the controls of the Nanaimo-Victoria passenger train Sat­urday. He bad started his railway career in 1909 with the E. & N. Railway.

"Leaving Nanaimo at 2:10 p.m., Mr. Foster piloted the E. N. train to the capital city. Arriving there at 4:50 p.m., he stepped out of the cab and went home to retire­ment.

" ... He started work as a wiper, be­came a fireman, then made his first run as an engineer in June 1912." *

151

From the Library ... R. J . DUNCAN, Librarian, P.O. Box 118, Armstrong, B.C., Canada

(Continued frome P~~Je SS, Feb. 19!5!5)

Miscellaneous Books There are quite a number of these avail­

able, such as: E. D. Bacon- Reprint! of Postal Adhesive

Stamps. Robson Lowe-Bishop Mark. D. B. Armstrong-Coronation Stamps. Arthur Hind-British Empire Catalogue,

American sale (with plates). Dorn-Forged Stamps of All Countries. D. B. Armstrong-Silver Jubilee Stamps. Marks- British Colonial Handbook. H. & A. Wallace-Silver Jubilees. Robson Lowe--Masterpieces of Engraving. PhiJatelic Handbook of Jamaica.

LIST OF ARTICLES IN LIBRARY (Please order by number)

1 Meter Slogans for Canada's War Ef­fort. (F. W. Pollock) 2 pages.

2 Watermarks on Canadian Stamps. (E. Richardson) 2 pages.

3 College Stamps of Canada. (F. W. Pol­lock) 7 pages.

4 10 cent Retouches-1859 Issue. (Sen. J. A. Calder) 1 page.

5 2c and 4c Provisionals of Newfound­land. (G. B. Sloane) 1 page.

6 Sammual Allan Taylor. (R. A. Jamie­son) 4 pages.

7 Canadian Part Perforates of 1923. (E. Richardson) 3 pages.

8 Imprint Positions on Nova Scotia Cents. (E. Richardson) 2 pages.

9 Canadian Stamps That Might Have Been. (A. S. Deaville) 5 pages.

10 Canada 1932 Medallion, Scott's No. 195. (A. H. Kirkpatrick) 1 page.

11 Canadian Soldier's Letter - 2c Rate. (1. C. Morgan) 1 page.

12 Bahamas Sd Special Delivery 1916. (A. D. Pierce) 2 pages.

13 Postage Meter Impressions of C&Qada. (W. Simon) 6 pages.

14 Inland Postal History of Newfoundland. (Rev. H . Kirby) 8 pages.

IS Northwest Territory Cancellations. (F. W. Pollock) 2 pages.

16 Canadian War Markings. (Various) 14 pages.

17 Canadian Patriotic Slogans. (A. Harvey) 6 pages.

152

18 Canadian Railway Pictorial Postcards. (Bond & Pollock) 3 pages.

19 Pre-Confederation Remainders. (F. W. Pollock) 2 pages.

20 Canadian Issues, 1912-1928. (Pollock, Campbell, Sonne) 5 pages.

21 The Three Cent Small Queen Issue of Canada. (L. D. Shoemaker) 8 pages.

22 The National Cash Register Postage Machines of Canada. (W. Simon) 3 pp.

23 Some Early Canadian Cancellations. (T. 0. Hibbs) 2 pages.

24 Pantograpbed Newfoundland Issue­Caribou. (C. P. Rang) 1 page.

25 Canadian Air Rarities. 1 page. 26 Canada-Scratched Plate, etc. (C. P.

Rang) 2 pages. 27 Canada- Early Issues. (S. Phillips) 7

pages. 28 Canada 1898-1902 Issue. (Argus &

Aretz) 4 pages. 29 Reciprocal Cachets of U.S. and Can­

ada. (E. J. Bernstein) 14 pages. 30 Canada-Port Hood Bisect. (M. Miller)

4 pages. 31 Bisects of Dominion of Canada. (M.

Miller) 9 pages. 32 Canadian Imperforate Between Coil

Stamps of 1926. (L. D. Shoemaker) 3 pages.

33 Stamps of New Brunswick. (D. A. King) 9 pages.

34 Reprints of New Brunswick. (J. M. Bartels) 2 pages.

35 Stamps of Prince Edward Island. (D. A. King) 9 pages.

36 Stamps of British Columbia and Van­couver Island. (D. A. King) 5 pages.

37 The Stamps of Canada. (D. A. King) 15 pages.

38 Random Notes on Prince Edward Island. (L. S. Crosby) 4 pages.

39 Stamps of Nova Scotia. (D. A. King) 12 pages.

40 Canadian Locals - Labrador Co. of U.S.A. (H. W. K. Hale) 10 pages.

41 Background of Newfoundland Stamps. (J. E. J . Fox) 10 pages.

42 The Half-cent Maple Leaves of Canada, 1897. (Dr. A. Whitehead) 2 pages.

43 Royal William Trans-atlantic Voyage. (L. Ravenscroft) 2 pages.

(l'o Be Continued)

INA TOPICS

PerRn Group Handbook:

Uanadian Stamps With Perforated Initials PART ¥-Conclusion (Continued from Page 113, Apri l 1955)

ADDENDA

J10 P13 513 MBa

No. Description Nome of User Issue Rev. Pre-Stomp cancel

J10 JH DB~ 1937 P13 PC/ Co. 2H51h/5~-4 Pittsburg Cool Co., Winnipeg, Mon. 1912 513 SIW DS~-4-5~ 1928 MSo MH HB~ Mauey-Harrla Co. 1928

HOW PERFINS ARE CATALOGUED (By courtesy of The Perfins Club, as used for cataloguing U.S. Perfins)

Although the cataloguing plan now in use by The Perfins Club is not ideal, in that it fails to describe a few of the designs, it is the result of considerable study and is believed to be the best method presently available.

The complete information includes: (a) The letters of the design arranged in specified order. (b) A code symbol showing the type of design. (c) The height of the letters in the same order as shown in (a) in mm. measured from the

centre of the outermost holes. (d) The name and location of the perfin user.

The following are the principal code symbols: H --one horizontal line of letters or a single letter.

2H - two such lines. 3H - three such lines. D - letters diagonally, left to right. Du-diagonal, reading upwards. A -letters arranged in the arc of a circle. Ex-Exogram: one letter is larger and encloses others. Bn-Endogram: letters enclosed in a border such as a circle.

M- tbe letters are interwoven.

In addition there are the following auxiliary symbols: Co-the letters are combined. Ov--One letter crosses another, but not as complicated as a monogram. R -a letter is reversed.

MAY 1955 '"

P -letters are script or fancy. I -diagonal bar indicates the break between two lines. - -an underline indicates that the letter is seriffed. ()-in parenthesis, a letter is enclosed in the previous letter.

Spacing or the number of holes are given when needed for clarity. Where a group of letters read the same forward or backward, as AM and MA, it will

be listed under both letters. In monograms, etc., the letters are listed in the order that they can be read from left

to right. If two letters extend equally to the left, the one extending furthest upwards is listed first.

Where all the letters of a design are of equal height, the height is given only once. Perfin designs are read viewed from the face of the stamp held in normal position.

:When viewed from the back, the letters read from right to left, if the stamp has been punched normally or face upwards.

Most of the illustrations show a reversed design. However, a few show the normal design on the reversed side, due to the stamps having been punched with the gum side upwards.

USE OF PRIVATELY PERFORATED CANADIAN STAMPS BY U.S.A. COMPANIES

In the general listing will be found many users of perforated initial stamps whose offices, so far as we know, are located in the U.S.A. These have not been indicated as American companies as it is not known whether they had branch offices in Canada at the time the stamps were perforated, or whether the stamps were perforated at the home office in the U.S.A.

There are several reasons why a company located in the United States would purchase Canadian postage or revenue stamps and perforate them at their home office for use in Canada.

(1) The company might have a small branch or agency in Canada and for the pur­pose of accounting would punch Canadian issues from the American office prior to distri­bution to the Canadian branch or branches. This is thought to be true of some of the rail­road companies, such as Southern Pacific, Missouri Railroad, and Michigan Central.

(2) When a company wished to enclose a return stamped envelope to a Canadian correspondent. This happens quite often for the return of company voting proxies or for the return of auditor's check statements.

(3) Until a few years ago all cheques payable in Canada were required to carry a tax stamp (postage stamps were acceptable), so that cheques drawn in the U.S.A. for payment in Canada would have to carry a Canadian excise or postage stamp. The Pullman Co. of Chicago is a known example of the use of this practise.

(4) Any company requiring the use of special delivery service of mail to a Canadian correspondent would have to prepay the special delivery charge with a Canadian special delivery (or postage) stamp. The illustration of the Cudahy Co. perfin is an example of this usage.

(5) Use by U.S. companies of Canadian customs duty stamps as described in the notes on the use of perforated revenue stamps.

154

C] WATCH FOR DETAILS CONCERNING THE PUBLICATION OF THIS PROJECT OF THE PERFIN STUDY GROUP IN BOOKLET FORM. SCHEDULED TO SELL AT ONE DOLLAR, IT WILL CONTAIN 24 PAGES PLUS COVER, AND WILL BE BROUGHT UP TO DATE WITH ADDED INFORMATION RECEIVED BY THE EDITORS.

INA TOPICS

S/uth:luiA oj BNAPSers ...

No. 67: Isaac Pitblado, Q.C., LL.D.

0 NE of the "grand old men" of Cana­dian philately is Mr. Isaac Pitblado

of Winnipeg, who was born at Glenelg, Nova Scotia, the son of a Presbyterian minister. He was educated in Halifax public and high schools and Dalhousie University, and moved to Winnipeg in 1882 where he graduated from the University of Manitoba, being called to the bar in 1890. In 1909 Mr. Pitblado was created a King's Counsel and was president of the Manitoba Law So­ciety 1917-20, and chairman of the Board of Governors, University of Manitoba, 1917-24. In 1934 he received the high honor of being elected president of the Canadian Bar Association. He received the honorary degree of LL.D. from Dalhousie University in 1919 and from University of Manitoba in 1926.

As a youth in "short pants" he started collecting stamps and has been an active philatelist ever since. During his early years in Winnipeg he came across some examples of the 1877 "Provisional" issue of Manitoba Law stamps and by dill igent search acquired a fine collection of these rare stamps which won an award at the philatelic exhibition held in Montreal in 1925. Mr. Pitblado pre­pared the list of the Manitoba Law stamps for the revenue catalogue published by Kel­sey Hall which provided the basis of the

MAY 1955

By V. G. GREENE (BNAPS L40)

Manitoba section in Jarrett's B.N.A. Hand­book. He also formed a fine collection of the postage stamps of British North America and at one time owned two 12d blacks, one of which is illustrated in Jarrett's book. Al­though he gave his collection to his son Edward some years ago, Mr. Pitblado still follows the hobby with interest and believes that used blocks of four of Canadian stamps in fine condition are good property if bought judiciously by the discriminating philatelist. He had the honor of being a member of the jury at CAPEX in 1951.

A keen curler, Mr. Pitblado was presi­dent of the Manitoba Curling Association in 1910. He is also a golf enthusiast and al­though "getting on", still enjoys the occa­sional game. A member of the board of di­rectors of the Canadian Bank of Commerce Winnipeg & Central Gas Co., Mutual Lif~ Assurance Co. of Canada, The Toronto General Trusts Corporation, and many other corporations, Mr. Pitblado still finds time to keep in touch with his favorite hob­by. The writer asked Mr. Pitblado his opinion of philately, to which he replied: "I have always had a great 'kick' in collecting stamps, and the friendships I have made have added to my enjoyment of life". *

MAILBAG-From page 132 which those of us who study the interesting squared circle postmarks owe him a great debt of gratitude.

Riviere du Loup StJition. The earliest date given is Oct. 7 '95. I should like to place on record the fact that I have a copy of the 8c pale bluish grey stamp of 1893 (SG 117) showing the date "AU 7 94". Unfortunate­ly, this is neither on cover nor yet on piece but the date is beautifully clear.

I have also found two later dates than those quoted by Dr. Whitehead, viz:

Macleod. Nov. 8 '98 as compared with July 20, '98.

CharloHdoWD. July 28 '98 as compared with June 17 '98. In view of Dr. Whitehead's notes on the indicia of the latter cancella­tions, it is of interest to note that mine shows the clerk's number, viz., .. 2" above the date and the time mark, "PM", below it.

Evan R. GUI (No. 208)

155

7~~'4-

Jltill~ New Catalogue of OHMS Officials • Roy Wrigley, 2288 Bellevue Avenue, West Vancouver, B.C. (BNAPS 1065), an· nounces the preparation of a listing of all Canada Officials.

He states that it will classify the four major varieties: Type 1, 5-bole perforated; 2. 4-bole perforated; 3, overprinted OHMS, and 4, overprinted "G". These are followed by the seven minor varieties, embracing 1, "A" to "H" position of the perforations; 2, double perforated; 3, compound perforated; 4, imperforated pairs; S, missing periods in the overprinted; 6, narrow spacing, and 7, missing "G".

The present listing is 119 5-hole, 56 4· hole, 17 o.p. OHMS, and 32 o.p. "G"-a total of 222 major varieties. It lists 279 5· hole, 203 4-hole, 24 o.p. OHMS, and 2 o.p. "G"-a total of 508 minor varieties.

Mr. Wrigley is anxious to hear from col­lectors of any heretofore unlisted varieties, and particularly of Official Stationery, that they may be incorporated in the new cata­logue.

Scott Unites Departments • Scott PubUcadons Inc., publishers of the Scott line of stamp catalogues and albums which originated in 1867, moved its edi· torial and business offices from 580 Fifth Ave. to the Printing Crafts Building at 461 Eighth Ave., New York, recently.

The move, says Gordon R. Harmer, pre­sident of the firm, was made in order to put the complete organization under one roof in the interests of operating efficiency. The Scott printing plant has been at "461" since 1921.

H. R. Harmer Catalogue Printer Busy • For a printer to be working on four dif­ferent catalogues of one auction house at the same time must certainly be unique. SUch was the position of Murray Weiss of the Cosmos Press with H. R. Harmer Inc., in the middle of March.

While he was "paging up" the handbook­catalogue of the specialized collection of Colombia "Scadta'' Air Post issues to be

156

sold on April 18, he was commencing to set type for the catalogue of Air Post for the two following days, was completing the setting for the nine-session wholesale auc­tion of April 25, 26, 27, 28 and 29, and commencing the se-tting for the "L. H. Barlc.­hausen" United States postal stationery auc­tion of June 14, 15 and 16.

Catalogues of all auctions may be ob­tained gratis from H. R. Harmer Inc., 6 West 48th Street, New York 36, N.Y., by mentioning this magazine. * Specialist Group To Work On War Tax Stamps • Tbe RA Shimp Club, the largest club 10

the Ottawa district, has recently formed a specialist group which will work on the only remaining orphan of Canada's stamps, the War Tax issues. Hardly anything has been written about this most interesting group, and although Hon. George C. Marler (now Minister of Transport in the Canadian Gov­ernment), intended to do some study on this issue, he never did have the time until now.

This RA Stamp Club group consists of five persons, with BNAPSer Hans Reiche as chairman. BNAPSer D. A. Young of To­ronto has promised to help the group, and the Phila~elic Agency has made available all data, what little there is of it there. Mr. Marler, always helpful in any Admiral prob­lems, has indicated his will ingness to aid the group.

1t is intended to publish this data even· tually in the form of notes collected by tho group. Correspondence, information and material will be welcome from any collector interested in these issues. Get in touch with Hans Reiche, Apt. 18, 235 Cooper St., Ot· tawa 4, Ont. *

The Universal Postal Union • Only 80 years ago, the exchange of mail among the countries of the world was greatly simplified by the establishment of the Uni­versal Postal Union. In 1874, 22 countries agreed to accept a code of regulations and fixed uniform postage rates. Canada became a member four years later.

Prior to the formation of the U.P.U., there were separate postal rates for every one of 127 countries. Canada had two rates for mail to India, for example, depending on whether it travelled via Great Britain or the United States. The long, complicated lists in the Canadian Postal Guide, the con­fusion and many of the problems vanished when Canada joined the Postal Union. *

INA TOPICS

OFFICIAL SECTION BRITISH NORTH AMERICA PHILATELIC SOCIETY

A LETTER

FROM THE PRESIDENT CHARLES P. deVOLPI, 4720 GROSVENOR AVE., MONTREAL 6, CANADA

F IRST OF ALL, a belated but sincere thanks for the honor bestowed upon me in electing me your President. I do hope my efforts will assist in continuing the good work done

in the past, and ii anything can be improved I wiU do my utmost to accomplish this. I, however, need your assistance-if you have complaints, please let me know about them, or if you have suggestions as to improvements, please write to me, and then we can see what can be done.

Perhaps you have wondered why a President's Letter bas not appeared before this. WeU, the reason is that I wanted to get all the loose ends tied up and a program lined up for the future; also committees organized and confirmations of appointments taken ca."'C of, and last but not least, an effort to get rid of an awful lot of work by passing it on to the most agreeable group of co-workers I have ever come across--hardly anyone ever says ·no, and I am sure that when they say yes, they mean it, and will do the job aUocated to them. In the next issue of TOPICS I will cover the appointments and committees.

In this letter I would like to say that we all owe a vote of thanks to the Hartford Group for their plans for BNAPEX-55, but right now they need more than thanks. They need your registrations, your reservations and your exhibit entry. Please make their job easier by looking after these matters now.

T also think that H. M. Daggett Jr. (No. 50) should be thanked for his offer to index all B.N.A. material, and the way to thank him is to volunteer your assistance as requested on page 99 of April TOPICS.

A oouquet also to the Perfin Group-their handbook appearing in TOPICS is a tre­mendous job, well done. When giving bouquets, Dr. Alfred Whitehead also gets one for his handbook on the squared circle postmarks of Canada. Really a terrific job, and one that will bring the squared circle to the front.

While throwing bouquets, I also find it necessary to throw a brick-bat. Our library is very ably handled by Bob Duncan, but it is being run at a cost to the Society, and this should not be the case. When members request items from the library they must bear in mind that postage must be paid ooth ways, and I firmly believe that a fee should be charged for all items loaned, and this fee payable in advance.

It is with sorrow that I must end this letter by offering deepest sympathy to the families of both Bill Meyerson and Ed Goodale. They were a big part of BNAPS.

C. P. deVOLPI.

MONTHLY REPORT

FROM THE SECRETARY JACK LEVINE, 2000 HOPEDALE AVE., CHARLOTTE 7, N.C., U.S.A .

NEW MEMBERS 1298 Folinsbee, Dr. F. J., 10728- 100 Avenue, Edmonton, Alberta. 1299 Graham, Louis H., 177 Retreat Avenue, Hartford 6, Connecticut. 1300 Gutzman, W. L., 38 Vinet Avenue, Strathmore, Quebec. 1301 Insley, Arthur H., 378 Melrose Avenue, Toronto 12, Ontario.

MAY 1955

April 15, 1955.

157

1302 McTaggart-Cowan, Dr. Ian, 2832 West 28th Avenue, Vancouver 8, British Columbia. 1303 Nykyfork, N. S., 4750 East Georgia Street, Vancouver, British Columbia. 1304 Sheldon, Roy, R.R. #5, St. Mary's, Ontario. 1305 Stott, Thomas A., 499 Highcroft Avenue, Ottawa 3, Ontario. 1306 Tannar, Leonard W., 6146 Main Street, Vancouver 15, British Columbia.

APPLICATIONS PENDING Amtmann, Bernard, 441 Mount Pleasant Avenue, Westmount, Quebec. Berkelheimer, Irwin, 518 Lamar Avenue, Charlotte 4, North Carolina. Froomkin, Nat, 586 Rupertsland, Winnipeg 4, Manitoba. Hale, Robert F., P.O. Box 126, Malone, New York. Hurst, W. D., 67 Kingsway, Winnipeg 9, Manitoba. Peterson, Andrew J., 36 Pearl Street, Hartford, Connecticut.

APPLICATIONS FOR MEMBERSHIP (Objections must be filed with the Secretary within 15 days after month of publication)

HOOGHKIRK, Robert C., Box 510, Milford, Conn. (D) Proposed by Dr. L. S. Holmes, No. 177.

KENYON, Stewart S., 10943-118 St., Edmonton, Alta. (C) CAN, NFD- Mint and used postage. Coils. O.H.M.S. Mint booklet panes. Mint airmails. Proposed by E. A. Harris, No. 729. Seconded by R. M. Williams, No. 1151.

McCALLUM, Reside, 3 Lansdowne Gardens, Point Claire, Montreal 33, Que. (C) CAN, NFD, PROV-Mint and used postage. P~;e-stamp, stampless covers. Coils. O.H.M.S. Mint booklet panes and complete booklets. Mint, used and semi-official airmails. Postal stationery entires. Proposed by R. J .Duncan, No. 37. .

NAIRNE, Reginald, 642 Battery St., Victoria, B.C. (D) Proposed by J. Levine, No. 1. RUSSO, Joseph, 1174-59th St., Brooklyn 19, N.Y. (CC) CAN- 19th century mint and used

postage and mint blocks. Plate blocks. Coils, O.H.M.S. Mint booklet panes and com­plete booklets. Tax-paid revenues. Mint, used and semi-official airmails. Proofs. Pro­posed by J. Levine, No. 1.

WORTMAN, Edgar C., Jr., 2212 Upas St., San Diego 4, Calif. (CX) CAN-19th and 20th century mint postage and blocks. Plate blocks. Mint airmails. Proposed by B. C. Binks, No. 74.

WINCH, Harry C., 495 Keith Road, West Vancouver, B.C. (CX) CAN, NFD, PROV­Mint and used postage. Plate blocks. Coils. O.H.M .S. Mint booklet panes and com­plete booklets. Federal revenues. Mint and used airmails. Postal stationery cut­squares. Proposed by H. A. MacMaster, No. 484.

CHANGES OF ADDRESS Burkhart, H. L., 76 N.W. 147th St., Miami 50, Florida. Fifield, Edson J., 511 Fifth Avenue, New York 17, N.Y. Gelinas, Capt. Joseph A., 116 McMurray SHV# 1, San Antonio, Texas. Hurlbert, Harry, Box 831, c/o Elks Club, Modesto, California. Liveright, Frank I, 132 Second Avenue, Westwood, New Jersey. Staton, Wesley, Gray, Saskatchewan.

RESIGNATIONS ACCEPTED Carson, Mrs. Donald M. Hauxwell, Basil H.

MEMBERSHIP SUMMARY Total Membership, March 15, 1955 .......................... 888 New Members, April 15, 1955 ................ ... ... ... ......... 9

Resignations, April 15, 1955 .. ... ... ...... .................... .. 2

Total Membership, April 15, 1955 . ...... .... ... ..

897

2

895

COVERS COVERS COVERS Geo. E. Foster PHILATELIC PRINTER

SMALL HEADS, R.P.O.'s, CORKS

FIRST FLIGHTS, FIRST DAYS

Box 174 Bordentown, N.J. Jack's Stamp Farm Route 6 - Woodstock - Ontario ' - Canada Personal Stationery a Specialty

158 BNA TOPICS

ON APPROVAL FINE USED CANADIAN OFFICIALS, OHMS AND G, IN SINGLE AND MULTIPLE PIECES

BRUNSWICK STAMP SERVICE lox 501 MONCTON, N.l . Canada

CLASSIFIED TOPICS Reserved for Members of BNAPS

RATES-2 cents per word per insertion; 500 words to be used as desired, $8 00.

COPY for Classified Topics should be sent to the Editor at P.O. Box 74, Brompton, Ont., to arrive before the 15th of the month previous to publication.

FO R SALE

BEnER CANADA. Sets, singles, mint blocks. Send want lists (with references). H. G. Saxton, 139 Twelfth Ave., N.E., Calgary, Alta., Canada. {9811)

CANADA, British Empire. Want lists please. E. K. Allen, 240 Spring Garden Road , Halifax, N.S., Canada.

CANADA 1859-68 choice material sent on approval. Stampless covers, recent plates, used blocks in stock. No. 1 G.B. my spec· ialty. Richard lamb, Route 2, Kitchener, Ont. (124-4t)

SPECIAL- The earliest past-marked $20 check received (the balance returned, of course) gets 286 used copies of 10c Edward Cana· do #93, catalogue value $175.20; 10 damaged, 25 in multiples, 251 are good to fine, mostly heavily cancelled. Perfect for research; wonderful investment. leland Neff (BNAPS #903), 1543 Hyland Ave., Arcadia, California. 124-lt

WANTED

CANADA- I want to either buy or borrow for study any Canadian letters or post· cards written to or written by Canadian Silversmiths prior to 1880. Particularly pre­stamp covers where contents are the pri­mary interest. lan Morgan, 22 Holton Ave., Westmount 6, P.Q. 123-2t

EXCHANGE

CANADIAN PLATE BLOCKS from 1284 on, for Canadian Revenues, or O.H.M.S., qual­ity atuff, collection, or any quantity. Ad­vise what you have, or forward for offer. Roy Wrigley (#1065), 2288 Bellevue Ave., West Vancouver, B.C. 117-tf

MAY 1955

WANTED

B.N.A. STAMPLESS AND PRESTAMP

COVERS Addressed to or from Canada.

WHAT HAVE YOU TO OFFER?

CHAS. P. deVOLPI 4720 Grosvenor Ave.

MONTREAL 6 CANADA

PARAMOUNT STAMPS Invites readers of INA TOPICS

••• to accept an invitation to look over our splendid assortment of line clean stamps. Many books are available for your enJoy­ment. State your specific: Interest, I.e., Caa­ade, Produces, Greet BrttaiD, Brillsll Co• monweallh or U.S.

WANT LIST SERVICE OUR SPECIALTY 1955 B.N.A. CATALOGUE-So vasUy dlf· ferent, at .... ........... ................. 25c (refundable)

PARAMOUNT STAMPS Box 55-liN, Station D, Toronto 9, Canada

BRITISH NORTH AMERICA is often extensively repre­

sented in the H. R. HARMER, Inc. auctions. Write for free catalogues and buy the right way-the H. R. HARMER way.

H. R. HARMER, INC. 6 West 48th Street • New York 36, N.Y.

1.-B.N.A. -.PAGE LIST ............................ lSc Complete coverage, classics to plate blocks. New pricing policy, 50% Scott or less. Send along your wants. 2.-AUSTRALIA, NEW ZEALAND: free lists. Aust. imprint blocks, set 11, $10; coils, set 3, 50c. blocks Sl. N .Z. Essay in black, #4 (cat. $400), nice block showing retouches: etc:.~ $Z (reg. $10). 3.-GEORGE Vt, ELlZABEm: free ll.sts. Everything available lnc:luding shades, perfs, varieties. ST. EDWARD CROWN WMK. ER­RORS, descriptive folder, tOe. Few sheets left, $15-$28. Priced around 5c: per 1/ ·. Join our New Issue Suvke before wmk. changes. Obsolete N. Rhod., S. Rbod., Nyasld. Queena, set to 1/ · , $1.75;, complete $12.90. FREE-New Ell%. eo... Cal. 'fl'itb $11 order,

JACKSONS STAMPS 2 Frlmette era. or 550 BaDJol St. Toronto 9 Tol'Oilto 12

159

The Last Word ... • DESIGNER . . . The current Whooping Crane stamp of the 1955 Wildlife Issue was designed by the head of the zoology de· partment of the University of Alberta. Dr. William Rowan is an expert on the life and habits of this almost extinct bird. About two

'' ••. crows flew backwards • • • "

years ago he found a nesting ground for a group of the cranes near Fort Smith at AI· berta's northern extremity.

Dr. Rowan, one of Canada's outstanding artist-zoologists, is also the man who "made crows fly backwards." This unusual feat was part of his study on the migratory habits of birds. His theory was that birds were guided in their migrations by the amount of light. When the light decreas~d in the fall they flew south, and when it increased in the spring they flew north. By placing crows in a boJC late in the fall and increasing the light gradually, the crows were made to think spring was on its way. When released they flew north instead of south!

• LETJ'ER WRITING •• • Librarian Bob Duncan wrote a letter to the editor last month which contained this plaintive sen· tence: "You are a good editor, but a lousy correspondent!" If you are one who has waited a long time for us to find the time to answer your letter, you will have a fellow feeling with Bob in his complaint. While we make no comment on the first part of the sentence, we admit that we are "lousy" in the letter-writing department. And it is not because of lack of interest in your letters or lack of a desire to answer them. There just doesn't seem to be the time after our editing chores are completed to answer

160

By THE EDITOR

the volume of mail which sometimes fills our post office box to overflowing. In fact mail has been known to fall out on the floor when the box was opened! To alleviate in some measure the task of answering the welcome letters of the membership, we have had some postcards printed, and these will be used when a short answer will suffice. Please do not be offended if you only re. ceive a pithy comment on a postcard in answer to a long and interesting letter. We are doing our best to keep up with the mail, and even a short answer is better than complete silence!

• BNAPS STATIONERY ••• The editor has long thought that a great deal of useful publicity could be given to BNAPS by the use of specially printed stationery bearing the Society crest, and perhaps a line reading Member No.--- , with space for a member to insert his number, or just the notation "Member" under the crest. These would look attractive in blue, on white bond paper, and could be produced to sell at approximately $1.75 for SO each of 8Y.l"xll" letterheads and matching enve­lopes; or $3.00 for 100 of each. If any res­ponse is received to this suggestion, full particulars will be given in an early issue of BNA TOPICS.

• THANKS • •• to Dr. W. L Fluck, Marl­borough Woods, Halifax, N.S., for a hand­somely cacheted cover bearing the new 4c and 5c Wildlife stamps.. Members should write to Dr. Fluck for samples of his covers for coming Canadian commemorative issues . . . . to Roy Wrigley (BNAPS 1065) for a copy of the masthead of the April issue of "The Rotarian" showing that in recognition of the various stamps issued celebrating Rotary's 50th anniversary, Rotary Interna­tional Office in Chicago recommends clubs throughout the world use "stamp collecting'' as a thesis for one of their weekly meetings. Collectors appreciate the interest such ef­forts may develop through the 402,000 Ro­tarians throughout the world. Roy bas been a stamp collector for 46 years, and is a pioneer member of Rotary, having been connected with this fine organization for 32 years. *

I NA TOPICS

Is Your Name on Our Books ? IF IT IS NOT •.. It would pay you to ge t in touch with us immediately

WE HOLD THE FINEST STOCK OF B.N.A. stomps in Europe, and ca n supply any Canadian stamp in used condition from 1851-93.

FROM 1868 we con supply Dated Cancellations on all values. Copies of the 1859 CENTS ISSUES are available in their Printing Groups, and if you would like the comple te plates of the 1 2~c

and the 17c- WE CAN SU PPLY.

AS WE ARE IN personal touch with dealers on the Continent of Europe, our representatives ore always searching for new accumu· lations and stocks- thus ensuring continuous supplies of interesting B.N.A. material.

IF YOU HAVE any Superb items in New Bru nswick, Nova Scotia and Newfoundland-especially covers-communicate with us. We are ever eager to buy- CASH OR EXCHANGE.

J. E. LEA "EUROPE'S LEADING HOUSE FOR B.N.A."

14 Exchange Street, MANCHESTER 2, England

446 Strand, LONDON, W.C.2

Cables: PHILATELIC, MaMhester

Ban kers: District Bank ltd., Manchester 2

Auction Sales OF RARE AND VALUABLE

British North America AND OTHER POSTAGE STAMPS

HELD REGULARLY

Illustrated Catalogues Available a Month Before Sale Date

NEXT SALE MAY 18th VERY FINE CANADA

the property of C. 1-i. Fee, C. P. deVolpi, N. 0. Seagram

NEWFOUNDLAND the property of N. 0. Seagram

CHOICE PROVINCES the property of W. H. Woods and other owners

ESTATE PROPERTIES SOLICITED FOR SALE AT AUCTION

OR OUTRIGHT PURCHASE

J. N. SISSONS LTD. 59 Wellington West, Toronto, Canada

Phone: EMpire 4 -6003 Cables: Sistamp, Toronto

~106